Foreword by John Cushnahan MEP
David Alton and I first met and became friends in the early 1980s when we shared a joint platform at the Liberal Assembly in Eastbourne. The subject was the continuing trauma of Northern Ireland - I was then Chief Whip of the non-sectarian Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. David subsequently became Liberal Chief Whip and I became leader of the Alliance Party. Together, as kindred spirits, we brought our two parties into a political alliance. Our views on social and economic matters were in tune: both parties were strongly committed to reconciliation as the basis for resolving the Northern Ireland conflict and we both shared a passionate pro-European outlook. By 1989 I had left full-time politics in Northern Ireland and became a Fine Gael MP for the Euro-Constituency of Munster in the Irish Republic. Fine Gael is a member of the Christian Democratic grouping within the European parliament and, since joining them, I have been very encouraged to see the increasing importance and influence of Christian Democratic policies based on the ideals of personalism, pluralism and reconciliation. Indeed, Christian Democrats have been the inspirational and driving force behind the formation of the European Community and have played a similar role in the growth of freedom in the fledgling democracies of Eastern Europe. This book by David Alton draws upon the significant historical contribution of Christian Democracy to creating the 'European home'. It puts Christian Democratic ideas into the context of British politics. Hitherto, the Anglo-Saxon and European models of Christian Democracy have been based on vastly different values. One example of this is the traditional classbased politics of Britain which finds little parallel in Europe. Furthermore, European liberalism is a very different concept from British liberalism, as illustrated by the stance of Labour and Conservative MEPs in Brussels and Strasbourg who are markedly different in emphasis to their national parties at home. European politics is changing things, and always for the better. I believe that our future lies in Europe and that the biggest influence for most of us will come from Christian Democracy. Therefore, it is timely that a broadly-based Movement for Christian Democracy has been founded in Britain. It fills a political gap - as does this important book. Strasbourg 1991