THE Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Mark Tanner, encountered “shocking themes” when he discussed patriotism and the UK’s civil preparedness for conflict with young relatives, who felt “national shame” and that war was “a thing of the past”, he told the House of Lords.
Bishop Tanner, a former army chaplain, was taking part in a debate on Monday instigated by Baroness Harris of Richmond (Liberal Democrat), who asked the Government what assessment they have made of the UK’s civil preparedness for war.
The Bishop said: “I was hijacked by an accidental focus group that I found myself conducting over the weekend. As I discussed this matter with my nieces, nephews, and godchildren — a group of highly intelligent 18- to 27-year-old adults — some clear and, for me, shocking themes emerged.
“The first was their surprise that this issue is on our radar. They said, ‘Surely war is a thing of the past.’ Secondly, when I asked what we needed for civil preparedness, they said, ‘We do not feel like a cohesive group. We don’t really have a sense of national pride.’ One of them even said, ‘Rather, it is more a sense of national shame. When people fly our national flag, we’re concerned.’”
Bishop Tanner concluded that the conversation demonstrated “a really serious diminution in trust”. He said: “The fact that our political system across the nation, at every level, is addicted to tearing down rather than building up will end up biting us.”
A further theme, he said, “was a serious reduction in willingness to volunteer or serve”. He added: “One of the things my research has turned up — I struggle to believe this — is that, today, we have 12,000 fewer firefighters than we did in 2000. To me, that is a really interesting statistic in terms of what we give to serve the other.”
Speaking in the same debate, the Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, praised the roles of faith groups, which, he said, “can and will have a major role to play in any situation that requires civil engagement and response”.
Dr Walker said: “Faith groups are not just another example of voluntary or community activity — their reach goes much deeper into every corner of society. Their numbers far outweigh other bodies. They have different decision-making structures and are often networked in complex but effective ways, and many have significant links to the memberships of international bodies.
“Our faith groups can and will have a major role to play in any situation that requires civil engagement and response, but that requires them to be seen as what they are, not lumped into a more convenient category. I am very grateful in my own diocese that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority fully recognises that distinctiveness. Having a very informed and supportive mayor [Andy Burnham] means that we are recognised for who we are, and I believe that we make a major contribution already to civil society, as we could in terms of preparedness for a war situation.”
Responding for the Government, Lord Coaker (Labour), acknowledged that the bishops had raised “a big question for the Government and society”. He said that the bishops “talked about pride, patriotism, culture, self-worth, and self-esteem”. “This is a big question for the Government and society,” he said. “I wonder whether we could sometimes be a bit more confident and strident in what we say about it. I say that because, just beneath the surface, there is patriotism, pride, and a sense of self-worth and community.”
Lord Coaker said: “We are drafting a Defence Readiness Bill to ensure that we have the legislative framework within which we can respond to some of the challenges that we may meet in future. I understand the impatience and the need for us to act as quickly as possible — we will do so. I very much thank the noble Baroness, Lady Harris, for bringing this debate forward.”