In January 1961, in his Inaugural Presidential Address, John F Kennedy famously told Americans: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” In that vein, as your North Dorset Member of Parliament, I am asking two things of you.
First, the consultation on the proposed closure of eight fire stations (Mere and Cranborne most impacting North Dorset) and reduction in fire crew and equipment closes on 15th May. If you have not already done so, please take part and get your voice heard: dwfire.org.uk will take you to the consultation pages.
I have also launched my second North Dorset Constituent Health Survey, and would very much appreciate receiving your views in order to assist me in achieving the best we can for North Dorset from health providers and commissioners. My survey can be found at simonhoare.org.uk
Nationhood isn’t owned
The unity of our United Kingdom is perhaps best expressed and strengthened by the welcome we give to the various languages, cultures, music, traditions and quirks that comprise the people of our islands. We can be united without being uniform. The people of the island of Ireland, of Scotland and of Wales (the country of my birth and upbringing) have no reticence in celebrating their national saints’ days. That is not so much the case in England, and I think we have to ask why.
Flanders and Swann told us, of course, that ‘the English, the English, the English are best; I wouldn’t give tuppence for all of the rest’.
In Flanders’ build-up to the song, he makes the case as to why the English are so reticent about nationhood and national pride, suggesting that, having had a large empire, created the agricultural and industrial revolutions, pioneered parliamentary democracy, etc., we really didn’t need to bang our chests about how good we are. In Flanders’ tongue-in-cheek words: ‘Everyone knows it.’
I was delighted to be asked to read Shakespeare’s ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’ sonnet at Blandford’s St George’s Day celebration at the Corn Exchange. I was also particularly delighted to dedicate the reading to the splendid and outgoing town clerk, Linda Scott-Giles. It was a wonderful little event, augmented by a fantastic reading by a pupil of Blandford School, a thought-provoking address by the mayor and an apt prayer led by Dale, the mayor’s chaplain.
Afterwards, I was told that one notable of the town decided not to attend because they believed such an event was ‘pandering to Reform’. This sentiment is as worrying as it is nonsense. It is worrying because it implies that a celebration of nationhood and its values has been taken over and is now ‘owned’ by one political movement – that it has become an exclusive expression of political, rather than national, allegiance. It is nonsense of course. People of all walks of life, backgrounds and political affiliations celebrate St George’s Day and what it is to be English. However, it is also dangerous. It is always dangerous when people who would describe themselves as ‘mainstream’ surrender ground to those they deem not to be, for fear of guilt by association.
The flying of the English or Union flags should be about championing our values and what we hold dear. It should unite, rather than divide communities. It should be used as an emblem of shared values and endeavour, rather than as an ensign version of a tomcat defensively marking his territory. To be proud of our country is not an emotion reserved for any one group or individual. We all need to embrace our flag and all it stands for.
Nurse Edith Cavell told us, on the eve of her death by German firing squad in 1915: ‘Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone’. A noble and lofty sentiment. Hard to achieve. But one meriting an attempt by us all.
I run regular advice surgeries across the constituency. You can see the schedule of locations on my website. For more information and to make an appointment, please call 01258 452585 or email
[email protected].
