Big Society in a Small Country: Ed’s Challenge

Dear Ed,

It’s the first time in my life I can really say ‘I know him’ referring to a political leader. Does it make any difference? Not really. It depends if you are able to make the difference.

We met several times since I moved to London 5 years ago. At the time Tony was in charge and the UK was at the top. The country looked great and its future bright.

Now we are at a low and the sky on the horizon looks grim. Some are excited about Big Society but I don’t see anything as such except for a small country. It’s not the size I mean. The UK hasn’t changed despite the financial crisis. But its ambitions have shrunk to manage the domestic situation.

Britons built a global empire and made themselves the richest in the world. Now they look like shopkeepers just caring for savings.

I might not agree with your Old Labour sympathies but you have a unique background. You have been Minister of the Third Sector – the first one in the country – working extensively with civil society as a top politician has never done before. You took a sabbatical at Harvard’s Centre for European Studies learning about what most your fellow citizens don’t understand: Europe.

You have been a champion of sustainable development. The last time we met it was digging holes to plant trees up in the north for ACEVO and BTCV. It was cold and dirty but fun.

Will you be able to capitalize on that and bring hope back to this country?

The secret of victory still rests within ‘the third way’. We live in a century of policies not politics. Networks not parties bring change.

I’m a foreigner here. 5 years ago I was welcomed and given a chance to make the most of my life here. I did it and am grateful to the country. But I don’t like what’s happening: people are cutting bridges from the rest of the world.

You must lead them out from their dens. The destiny of these people is open water.

London is a global hub where every foreigner feels at home. Preserve its uniqueness.

An alert: you are Jewish. Don’t hide it. There is a large population of Muslims in this country. You MUST persuade them you will be fair to them, not biased towards Israel. If you lose their votes you lose the next election.

Good luck!