CPAX Focus on

Peter Vickers

Peter Vickers http://www.cpanewham.org

Peter Vickers has been involved in British politics for decades. He is currently Alan Craig's political assistant in Newham, East London. His remit is two-fold: to help Alan in his council work, and to plan for the 2006 Newham Borough Council elections. I caught up with him after a hard morning's canvassing - while he had been sitting in the office drinking coffee!

Peter, could you tell us a little bit about your background?

I was brought up in Lancashire, in a traditional Roman Catholic family, and educated by a Catholic order called the Christian Brothers. Near the end of my school life, I rebelled against a lot of things, and I'm afraid that included God. I spent five years in Zambia, where my father was in the Civil Service, and that experience helped to formalise my emerging political views and opinions, which were basically Liberal. (My family on my mother's side are Methodists.)

When I came back to England I joined the Liberal Party and became active in the Anti-Apartheid Movement with the Young Liberals. In 1977 I was selected as the Liberal Party Parliamentary Candidate for Old Bexley & Sidcup. At the age of 22 this made me the youngest Parliamentary candidate from any main party in the UK. I remained the candidate in Old Bexley & Sidcup until 1983; contesting both the 1979 and 1983 General Elections. After the 1983 election, I became convinced that my role was in the back room rather than on the hustings, and I was trained as an election agent for the Liberals. Having qualified as an agent, though, I never actually became one! That was because I was drafted into the Liberal Party's National By-Election Team and went on to work in a number of by-elections: Croydon North West, Warrington, Glasgow Hillhead (Roy Jenkins), Crosby (Shirley Williams), Bermondsey (Simon Hughes; I was his assistant campaign manager), and numerous others.

I left the Liberal Party in 1989, because it was no longer promoting the policies I believed in. I flirted briefly with the Conservatives before giving up on politics altogether - I was just disillusioned with the whole thing. I felt that all parties advocated, or condoned, policies that I could not be associated with.

Between 1992 and 2003 I did nothing, politically speaking. In 2003, however, I became a Christian. For the next couple of years, I focussed on building my faith, my relationship with God.

As well as fighting Elections, I understand you have also battled with alcohol. Can you tell us something about this?

It was more like a war! I had a drink problem since I was about 17, and over the years it got worse and worse. To cut a long story short: in November 2003 I attempted to commit suicide, and was in a coma for two days. When I regained consciousness, the doctors told me they could not understand how I had survived the massive overdose I took. I already knew how. As I was unconscious I was very aware of a gentle presence telling me that I could not die as He had plans for me. I became a Christian that day and have not drunk since. It has been the toughest battle of my life. But with the help of Jesus I am still here and I'm still sober.

I can now say that I am glad to be an alcoholic. I believe it is part of what I am, and my experiences have prepared me to fight for Jesus. I believe that in order to prepare us for His service, God often asks us to walk just a small Calvary of our own. My enjoyment of life without alcohol is hard to explain, but it is something I am truly thankful for. I used to be a truly bad and sinful person. I'm still not perfect, but now my sins trouble me, and I do my very best to avoid repeating them. Being around Christians all day is a big, big help and I give Jesus thanks for bringing me to Newham every day.

How did you get involved with the CPA?

I was looking for a job - looking hard, and not having much success! Then, one night, on a whim I typed "Christian jobs" into the search engine, and the first hit was advertising for a political assistant for Alan Craig. The job spec could have been written for me. So I applied, and I got it.

I heard that the Millennium Dome inspires you every day! Why?

It inspires me because, just like the Labour Party in Newham, it represents everything that is wrong with New Labour. Their arrogance, their brashness, their contempt for people's views, and their belief that BIG and NEW means better.

I was canvassing today [18 August 2005] in the Custom House ward in Newham. One woman, hearing that I was from CPA, said "religion and politics don't mix" - what would you say to that?

I would say, as Paul did to the Philippians "Ye are a colony of heaven." This means that although you live in the colony of time, your ultimate allegiance is to the empire of eternity. You have a dual citizenry. You live both in time and eternity; both in heaven and earth. Therefore, your ultimate allegiance is not to the government, to the state, to nation, to any man-made institution. The Christian owes his ultimate allegiance to God, and if any earthly institution conflicts with God's will it is your Christian duty to take a stand against it. To do nothing and to stay silent is to imply consent. My Lord's scripture commands you to make a stand on such issues and never to cease from the toil of your opposition. The most effective way for Christians to oppose bad governance is to replace it with Christian based rule.

Does your church approve of your work with the CPA?

My minister is very against the idea of my taking this job. He points out that Christians are already working hard in the mainstream parties. And that's true. But some of these people - not all! - are beginning to get a bit too fond of the ladder to power; they compromise their beliefs for the sake of "getting on" in their respective parties.

The CPA is not going to be forming a Government any time soon. What do you see as their role in the short term?

To build up a base locally, at the grass roots; to build up branches across the country. We have the chance now to get a large group of CPA councillors in a single council. Parliamentary success is probably some years away, and we have to be realistic about our ambitions. I actually think there are three areas where we can make progress - the London Assembly, the Scottish Parliament, and the Welsh Assembly all offer us the chance to get representatives onto large political bodies, because of proportional representation.

If I were successful in helping to attain a large CPA group on Newham Council, I would love to get involved with CPA groups across the country in order to help them become sound election fighting units.

What is the best way for CPA supporters to help the party right now?

By getting involved in the Newham campaign. We could really use a time bank - pledges of support for a certain number of hours, getting people to come down to Newham between now and 2006. Because Newham is our best chance of success right now. If it is not possible for you to get to Newham don't worry - you can still help. Just pop a cheque in the post.

Peter Vickers, thank you very much.