Christians seek politicians with long-term vision

Christians would vote for politicians who offer a positive long-term vision of society – but the leaders of today’s UK political parties are failing to communicate such a vision, according to a new poll released on Sunday. Church Action on Poverty and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland are urging churches to respond by organising local hustings events that refocus the election debate on visions of a 'Good Society'.

A national poll, commissioned from ComRes and published this Sunday (15 February), found:

Nine in ten practising Christians “are more likely to vote for a Parliamentary candidate who has a positive long-term vision for society, than one who focuses on short-term concerns”.

More than four in five (87%) disagree that the UK party leaders clearly communicate a long-term vision for society.

More than three quarters (78%) say that churches and church leaders "do not effectively challenge politicians to communicate a long-term positive vision for society".

The overwhelming majority of Christians (97%) say that churches and church leaders “have a key role to play in promoting a debate about what makes a good society”.

On 15 February, Church Action on Poverty Sunday, the charity called on churches across the UK to reflect on their own visions of the Good Society, and plan hustings events which challenge politicians to talk about the Good Society rather than focusing on short-term concerns and negative campaigning.

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) also published a 'Vision 2020 of the Good Society' on 15 February. The Vision will resource churches to engage in public debate with parliamentary candidates around five key ‘Good Society’ themes: secure livelihoods; homes for all; fulfilled lives for children and young people; a moral economy; and a global climate deal. CTBI is also responsible for coordinating hustings events nationally on behalf of the churches.

Niall Cooper, Director of Church Action on Poverty, said: “As the Bible says ‘Without a vision, the people perish.’ Christians are crying out for politicians to share a positive long-term vision for society – but politicians and political parties are currently failing to do so. However, today’s poll is also a challenge to the churches to speak publicly about our own vision of a Good Society. By organising local ‘Good Society’ hustings events, we can challenge those who want to represent us in Parliament to go beyond the usual political short-termism and engage in a positive debate about the kind of society they – and we – want to live in by the year 2020.”

See also: 2015 Election - resources and hustings guide www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=26740