Keep The Faith (KTF): Christmas is a special time of year for

Christians. What does this season conjure up for you?

Lord Taylor of Warwick (LTW): Rest and hope for the future. It is
a time to really thank God for His mercies and daily blessings. This
Christmas will be different, in that I am due to be singing in front of
5,000 people as part of my church choir. That may explain why there
has been a sudden increase in the purchase of earplugs locally!
KTF: How will you be celebrating Christmas this year, and what
gifts are you hoping to receive?
LTW: I will be celebrating with my three children and also meeting friends.
I like giving presents more than receiving them. But a really surprise
gift would be my team, Aston Villa, winning a football match. I believe
in a God of miracles.
KTF: 2012 has been a difficult year for you. You hit the
headlines when the MPs expenses scandal was exposed. What
were your initial reactions when the story became public?
LTW: It was a very confusing time, since I had entered politics to try
and help others, not to gain financially. I had left a lucrative profession
as a barrister and judge, to become an unpaid Peer. It would have been
very easy to have been consumed by my emotions, but I knew the only
way that I was going to survive was by faith, not fear. From the
beginning, I was very grateful that all of my friends stood by me.
KTF: The subsequent court case that must have been trying?
LTW: Yes, the court case was conducted very much in the media spotlight.
There were a lot of racist and abusive comments on the Internet. I kept
thinking about my mother, who had died some years before. I felt somehow
that she was with me and encouraging me. I also felt in a deeper way
the power of Gods Word, and the importance of declaring it out aloud.
KTF: You were sentenced to a term of imprisonment. Was that
a shock?
LTW: I had been warned that the Judge would be under a lot of media
pressure to imprison any parliamentarian in these circumstances. During
the trial, I had become friendly with the dock officer. He is an Arsenal
supporter, and we had often discussed why our teams never seem to
win anything. When the Judge sentenced me, the officer seemed
more distressed than I was. He kept apologising to me as he put the
handcuffs on me and led me down to the cells. I kept telling him not
to apologise, because he simply had a job to do.
KTF: How did you cope with life in prison, and did your faith in
God help you in any way?
LTW: I had more time to reflect and read the Bible. I was encouraged
by reading more deeply about the lives of Joseph, Daniel and Paul.
Obviously, I cannot compare myself to them, but God sustained them
during times of captivity. I also experienced Gods love through the
friendship and compassion of other prisoners. Many seemed grateful for
the advice I gave them about their own problems. There was one Black
guy in particular, who made the most delicious porridge I have ever
tasted. He assured me that none of the ingredients were illegal, and we
prayed together regularly. I was grateful for all the supportive letters
I received from other parliamentarians and members of the public.
But what really surprised me was the kindness of some of the prison
officers, who have a very difficult and potentially dangerous job to do.
KTF: What would you say are the major life lessons you
learned from this experience?
LTW: Life will have its ups and downs, but it is vital to keep a sense
of praise and worship in all circumstances. I have been through many
obstacles in life, and made many mistakes, but God has always sustained
me and brought me through. My friends and family are even more
important to me now than before. I seem to appreciate simple things
like a smile and a handshake even more nowadays.
LORD JOHN
TAYLOR OF
WARWICK
Lord John Taylor of Warwick, the first Black Tory peer, hit
the headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2009, when news
that some MPs and Members of the House of Lords had
disclaimed expenses.
There was public outrage, as details of some of the expenses
claims were revealed, and Lord Taylor was amongst the small
band of politicians who were brought before the Court for
their misdemeanours. Lord Taylor was given a 12-month
sentence in May 2011.
Having paid his debt to society, Lord Taylor is keen to make
amends by continuing to play a role in public life, as well as
helping those who are marginalised and promoting diversity.
A committed Christian, who was born to Jamaican parents,
Lord Taylor spoke to Keep The Faith about his hopes for
Christmas, life in prison, and how his faith in God is helping
him to rebuild his life.
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INTERVIEW
www.keepthefaith.co.uk 17
KTF: On the day you were sentenced, a number of church leaders
asked the Black Christian community to pray for you. Did you hear
about this? Whats your view on hearing about it?
LTW: I did not know this until now. This makes me feel very grateful
and humble. I do need their continuing prayers. Politics is not for the
fainthearted, and I know I cannot be effective without the power of
prayer. When my mother was alive, she was my main intercessor. Even
though she passed away some years ago, I still feel the power of her
prayers. She was small in stature, but big in spirit.
KTF: You are still a member of the House of Lords. How do you
see the way forward for you now, given the obvious setback
in your personal and public life?
LTW: With prayer support and Gods guidance, I believe I do have a
continuing role to play in the House of Lords. Because of my recent
experiences, I have an even deeper understanding of how the
marginalised in society feel. I am also in a position to communicate the
inner workings of Parliament and Government
to the Church. I am passionate about racial and
other forms of diversity in the workplace, and am
asked to speak on these issues at conferences
and seminars. I have also been appointed as a
Non-executive Director of the new National
Standards Agency, which helps to promote more
diversity in business and in the public sector.
KTF: Do you believe you still have a role to play in British
political life and, if so, in what way?
LTW: I can use my role in the Lords to continue to speak up for the
underprivileged. On my wing in Wandsworth Prison, most of the
prisoners were young Black men. There are more Black males in prison
than in college, and that has to change. I am already on the All Party
Parliamentary Penal Affairs Committee, and am advocating for more
education and training in prisons. As a former Chancellor of Bournemouth
University, I understand the importance of education. I will also use the
platform of my charity, The Warwick Leadership Foundation, to continue
mentoring young people. Over the last five years, we have mentored
young people from over 50 nations.
KTF: What do you think the Black Church community needs
to do to engage effectively within the political sphere?
LTW: Apart from voting, the Black Church community needs to
become more actively involved in politics. I came from a relatively
poor background, with no silver spoon. But I was elected as a School
Governor and then local Ward Councillor. I gradually worked my way
up to become a Government advisor, parliamentary candidate, then a
Member of the Lords. It was very hard work, but it was a privilege to
try and help people on the way. There were some very difficult times,
such as my racist experiences as a parliamentary candidate in
Cheltenham. But this just made me mentally stronger and more
determined not to give up.
KTF: From your position as an insider looking out, how do
you think the Black Church community is viewed within
political circles?
LTW: The political establishment is not very familiar with the Black Church
community. I feel privileged to be one of the few parliamentarians with
some understanding of both worlds. But there needs to be a closer
association between the two. When I became the first Black person
to be appointed as a Government Special Advisor, I arranged for a
group of Black Majority Church leaders to meet Government ministers.
I want to build on that, by facilitating regular dialogue between the
Black Church and our nations leaders. When I was a member of the
SCAR (Sickle Cell Anaemia Relief) Committee, I learned an early political
lesson: that you cannot influence Government policy from the sidelines.
KTF: One of the great things about Christianity and the Christmas
story is that it is a message of new birth, peace and hope. What
message of hope would you like to share with KTF readers?
LTW: God sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins 2,000 years ago. We
are Righteous, not by our own efforts, but because of His supreme
sacrifice. As a result, we are not striving for victory, but from a position
of victory. Whatever life brings our way, with Christ we are victors,
not victims. The Christmas story is one of rebirth, and I feel like a man
reborn, through Gods grace.
For more information, visit www.lordtaylor.org and
www.warwickleadership.org. Follow on Twitter: @LordJohnTaylor