Foreign policy doesn't usually win elections, but as I found when I stood in the City of Durham in the 2005 General Election, it is a "barometer" issue. As Oliver Letwin told me, it is a test of values and if people perceive your foreign policy values are wrong, they definitely won't vote for you, while if their perception of your foreign policy values is positive, it may help influence their attitude.
When I stood in 2005, I was a Cameroon before David Cameron became Leader, and a modern, compassionate Conservative before that phrase took root in the party. Throughout the campaign five years ago, I talked about social justice - at home and abroad - and although it did not win me the seat, it helped to change perceptions. When people found out that I am a human rights activist, when I spoke about my visits to the conflict zones of Burma, when I talked about my work with refugees and genuine asylum seekers, and when I held a public meeting to give two brave and inspiring individuals, one Israeli, the other Palestinian, an opportunity to put forward their vision of peace in the Middle East, it made a difference. Not a day went by in 2005 without at least one person coming up to me and saying either "I have never voted Conservative before, but because of what you are saying, for the first time in my life I am going to" (not many) or "I'd really like to vote for you because I like what you are saying, but I can't bring myself to vote Conservative" (many). Most greeted me with a look of astonishment, saying either "I can't believe you're a Conservative" or "I have never met a Conservative like you before."
Reading the new manifesto, Invitation to Join the Government of Britain, it is clear that five years on, the Conservative Party has many people like me. It has changed, radically. On domestic policy, that is especially clear, with a much more diverse range of candidates and many candidates who have a proven track-record of commitment to social justice. But there are many, like me, who enthuse about international human rights and tackling global poverty. Just look at Project Umubano. I am the norm, now, and no longer an exception.
Mending Britain's Broken Society has clearly been a central theme. But it is the Party's work on international development and international human rights which has not received the attention in the media that it deserves. Andrew Mitchell's One World Conservatism deserves applause and attention, and so too does the section in the manifesto headed "A Liberal Conservative Foreign Policy" on page 109-110. Here are a few snippets:
"A Conservative government’s approach to foreign affairs will be based on liberal Conservative principles. Liberal, because Britain must be open and engaged with the world, supporting human rights and championing the cause of democracy and the rule of law at every opportunity. But Conservative.. because our policy must be hard-headed and practical, dealing with the world as it is and not as we wish it were.
Our approach to foreign affairs is based on a belief in freedom, human rights and democracy ... we will always support liberal values because they provide the foundations for stability and prosperity....
Protecting Britain’s enlightened national interest requires global engagement. We will be safer if our values are strongly upheld and widely respected in the world. Our national identity is bound up in our historic global role as an outward-looking nation, giving generously to developing countries, and providing a safe haven to genuine refugees. ....It is not in our character to have a foreign policy without a conscience or to turn our back on the millions who live in poverty and conflict. ...
A Conservative government will always speak up for freedom and human rights. Torture is unacceptable and abhorrent, and we will never condone it. We will support humanitarian intervention when it is practical and necessary, while working with other countries to prevent conflict arising."
Of course, the real questions will be what will a Conservative government actually DO to speak up for freedom and human rights. I hope that William Hague as Foreign Secretary will implement the recommendations made in several reports over the past five years by the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, including the creation of a Minister in the FCO specifically responsible for human rights, supported by a number of Ambassadors-at-Large on thematic issues including human trafficking, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and religious freedom. I hope he will strengthen the International Criminal Court, as recommended in the Commission's recent paper Those Who Bear the Greatest Responsibility, and promote women human rights defenders, as detailed in Supporting Women Human Rights Defenders. Other reports from the Commission can be found here, and provide the backdrop for the manifesto's liberal Conservative foreign policy. I hope that a Conservative government will make it a priority to address the human rights crisis in countries such as Burma and North Korea, by pro-actively advocating a commission of inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity in both countries and strengthening targeted financial sanctions to hit the regimes' assets.
These may seem side issues compared to Britain's broken economy, broken society and broken politics, the need to protect and improve the NHS, raise standards in schools and help those in poverty and on the fringes of society to change their lives. But actually, it is all integral. We are a one nation party, and a one world party, and just as we invite the British people to play their part in the government of our country, so we join forces with the brave human rights and democracy activists who risk their lives in countries denied freedom to be voices of justice and liberty. We're all in this together - at home and abroad - and the manifesto shows this.
