Local Elections

Submitted by Alan Marsden on Fri, 23/04/2021 - 00:00

It is that time of year again. Sitting councillors and political candidates suddenly wish to get in touch, to share with me their dreams and aspirations, to explain what hard-working folk they are. I seldom hear from them the rest of the time, but there’s something about the month of April which inspires them to communicate with me. I can’t quite think what it is.

The local Liberals have written to me, addressing the letter ‘Dear Friend’. Their three candidates collectively call themselves TEAM BARNOLDSWICK. I certainly wouldn’t want to be electing the Colne Team or the Nelson Team. In one of their leaflets, they complain that the Conservative-controlled county has put up tax, while also complaining it is not spending enough money on x, y and z. They tell us there are plans for a ‘Lancashire Dictator’ (!) which they will oppose. There’s a whole load of other guff too, but it would prove as tiresome for me to type it up as it would for you to have to read it.

So what of the Conservatives, their perennial rivals? They promise to ‘Help businesses build back better’. Perhaps they should spend more on schools, so they might leaflets better write. Their candidates are photographed in the classic kneel-down-and-point-at-some-potholes pose, potholes for which they have presumably been charged with fixing over the past four years. They are standing for the county, but their town candidates, if they exist, have yet to make contact. Perhaps they too have been wowed by the Liberals’ arguments and concerns about installing an imminent, county-wide tyranny.

At time of print, Labour have been neither seen not heard.

In one respect, all these leaflets with silly pictures, misleading graphs and expressions of deepest concern, are all indications of a thriving democracy and a multi-party state. They also remind us of the quality of persons who rule us, of the bickering and pettiness, the cheap point-scoring and vested interest.

I believe one major advantage of inadequate human government is the contrast it provides to the perfect government of Christ.

“I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
And the books were opened.