An inspirational speech

I have just returned from the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, where I had the privilege of sharing in the buzzing atmosphere, speaking to MPs and watching Jeremy Corbyn deliver his speech – not in the hall – but on a screen in the packed bar next door!

His call for a ‘kinder politics’, one based on values, listening to each other and honest debate, gave me a sense of hope that, whatever the future brings, we might be seeing a seismic shift in the way we engage with each other, and our whole political system might be changed for the better.

As someone who loves words, I was particularly struck by his use of quotes from three inspirational figures:

Maya Angelou, American civil rights activist, ‘You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.’

Ben Okri, Nigerian novelist, ‘The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love [and to be greater than our suffering.]’

Keir Hardie, first Labour party leader, ‘My work has consisted of trying to stir up a divine discontent with wrong.’

Now there’s a call to Mission!