general election 2010
faith in politics
PLEASE NOTE: This page was for the 2010 general Election
See http://churcheselection.org.uk/ for the 2015 General Election
Introduction
It is easy to forget the remarkable power of our democratic process. At least once every five years we are given the chance to vote. All citizens, regardless of wealth or status, have an equal say in deciding what our common future should be.
Of course, this is not to forget the realities of political life: the scandals, the broken promises, the personalities and opportunism. But politics is more than this - it is how the national community operates, expresses its values and has the power to change the world.
A General Election will be held on 6 May 2010. Christians across the country will be campaigning for different parties or standing for election. Churches will host hustings meetings where candidates can be questioned by local voters. And voters will have the opportunity to decide who they wish to vote for, and which parties' policies most closely match their own hopes and values.
People will take a range of subjects into account when they decide how to vote. This briefing outlines some of the key policy areas, but it does not cover every subject or every detail. For each subject it provides a background, raises some key issues and suggests a series of questions for personal reflection or to ask of party candidates.
This booklet is aimed particularly at Christians. It has been prepared by individuals from within the Churches or Church agencies who have expert knowledge in their fields. It does not represent a ‘Church' view or support a party line. However, it does aim to help Christians engage with a range of important issues facing our country however they may decide to vote.
You might wish to use this booklet when preparing for a hustings meeting. If you would like to arrange a hustings meeting through your local church or Churches Together group, you can find guidance notes and advice on this website. You can also publicise your hustings event here, or find out what is happening in your constituency.
Further information and resources - including a regular newsletter and an analysis of the parties' manifestos, as well as issues not covered in this publication - will be available throughout the election campaign on this website.
A note on devolution
The issues in this briefing may be more or less relevant to you, depending on where you live. Devolution of power from Westminster to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland means that some of the Westminster politics will affect different parts of the United Kingdom in different ways. Look out for the codes on each page to see if the section is relevant to where you live. Further information about devolution and the General Election is available elsewhere on this website.
Key
On the pages of Faith in Politics, the above symbols mean the content is relevant to:
E - England
S - Scotland
NI - Northern Ireland
W - Wales
Faith in Politics: Acknowledgement and thanks
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