home back to interviews	A Socialist By Nature John Jowitt December 1999
	Normally, you only read musical things on the band in The Cage. This time, I wanted to do something completely different. I tried to discover 'the inner vision' of John Jowitt. A conversation on religion, politics and morality was the result. The theme of this interview is 'the current state of the world'. First of all to get an impression of your view of the world. Are you a religious person? Not in the sense of Christianity, but I'm humble enough to believe there's something bigger than myself. I'm also humble enough to think that perhaps we haven't got a clue what it really is. And I certainly don't believe in any sort of organised religion, in terms of that anybody who tells you that they are right and that God has told them, is probably talking complete nonsense. There's a great line I read once, that said: 'what Saint could go to Heaven, knowing that a sinner is going to hell?' and that puts it all in perspective for me. Are you involved in politics? Not in any direct way. I strongly believe in social justice, but I don't get actively involved 'cause I'm so busy in music.  To make it more specific, if you have to choose, Tony Blair (Labour) or William Hague (Conservatives)? Oh, Tony Blair. The reason for that is that I am a socialist by nature, because, as I said, I believe in social justice. To me, right-wing politics are politics of fear: 'if you don't do what we tell you, we will all suffer', whereas left-wing politics should be more about hope: 'we can work together to try to make a better world'. Is New Labour really new or just Old Labour with a new jacket? No, it's very different. I remember previous Labour governments and things certainly have changed, and I think for the better. And although there's a lot of learning to do, they have realised that you cannot be pulled in directions, you know, whether you're Tories (Conservatives) by business or Labour by the unions. There has to be a middle way and we'll see how that works out. I don't think it will be perfect but, as I say, you just go out and do your best. As a socialist, are you happy with the situation of socialist Prime Ministers all over Europe? And maybe we should count Clinton as well.... I think so. Personally I'd much rather see Clinton as a president than anyone the Republicans could put up. Although I feel very sorry for Bill Clinton at the moment, I think most people in his situation would do exactly what he did, but as a president he's been a very good president and when you compare his record to Reagan's I don't think there's any comparison.  Talking about Bill Clinton, did you watch the Monica Lewinski-tapes? No, I haven't, although I've heard bits on the radio; it all seems so hypocritical to me. Any man would find it difficult to stand up and say to his own family 'yes, I was unfaithful', but to stand up to the entire nation.... What he's done is wrong, but it's not impeachable.  Do you think this is possible in England? I don't think it would be the same in England. I don't know if it would be the same in Holland... I can't see William Hague do it... And our Dutch Prime Minister is boring.... Well, perhaps it would be good for his image if he did do it! But, you know, we've had sexual scandals in Britain... Ministers tied up in SM-suits...? Yeah, all that's Tories, they love all that sort of stuff. It's repressed public school backgrounds, ask the guys in the band about that. Again, he was wrong, but it wasn't against the interest of the country. He was trying to save his marriage, after he'd done something wrong. Doesn't a president have to set an example? Well, that's funny, because are we saying then that the American president has to be moral enough to authorise the bombing of civilians? We are happy enough to have Nixon bombing Vietnam, and that's okay, but to have an affair outside a marriage is something you get impeached for. What's your opinion on the ever-closer European Union? Personally I think it's a good thing. Britain always has this image of 'a little island' that wants to keep her independence, but I don't think Britain's alone... The Tories decided they are officially anti-Europe now. Ha, ha, well, that makes a big change from being unofficially anti-Europe... But even within the Tory-party there are some heavy-weighted people like Edward Heath, and Heseltine, who are talking about the need for a closer union. And it's funny to see other people like Michael Portillo, who is Portuguese by descent, saying that Britain should remain as a single nation. Are you also in favour of the Euro? Oh, definitely, it makes travelling across many countries a lot easier for people with our jobs. I think it's a good idea. It's a step towards a closer union around the world, and the more we can aim towards what's the best in the world... So, the result is a Europe of the regions, with also England having its own parliament?  Yeah, I think that's correct. I think it makes sense, because we have a situation in Britain where Scotland has its own parliament now, Wales has an assembly, Northern Ireland is getting its own separate assembly, and it's got to be the right way forward rather than having individual nationalities subjugated within groups. And now they can stand up for themselves. Are you optimistic about the Irish experiment? Yes, I've got to be. My experience with that was the Birmingham Pub bombing. My brother-in-law was actually in one of the pubs when it was blown up, so I have a personal relationship with that, and I don't think you ever solve anything by violence. And I think things are going in the right direction. I don't see how we can go backwards now, and I certainly hope it doesn't go backwards. By: Jan-Jaap de Haan