Holding politicians to account

David Bradwell highlights how churches can play a key role in a General Election and offers a selection of tips and resources.

THE next UK General Election must be held before January, but it could be called sooner: the decision is one for the Prime Minister.

Some commentators believe it might be as soon as early May, but most now think that mid/late November is more likely.

Whenever it is held, churches can now begin to prepare for constructive engagement with candidates and the issues – offering a Christian witness to the political process – whilst remaining free from support for a particular political party.

We have been working on developing and sharing resources to help congregations to respond to the opportunity of the election in a non-party political way.

Prayer and engagement in the issues

We know that election campaigns are driven by the priorities of the main political parties, what they think will play well with the public. It can sometimes mean that important issues don’t receive the attention they deserve, or where there is broad agreement between the main parties, alternative approaches are rarely discussed.

It can give churches an important role in offering a space for folk to consider important questions from a faith perspective in the context of prayer and reflection; when it comes to elections and politics, how do we show love for our neighbour? How are the policies proposed going to alleviate human suffering, challenge injustice, bring peace and restore and protect creation? How is human flourishing going to be promoted? What are the values that our nation respects and upholds and can make a positive difference on the world stage?

Christian Aid is one of many Christian and church-based organisations which is involved societal issues, which includes political advocacy. Christian Aid’s recently published resource for congregations – Act on Poverty – is produced in collaboration with the Trussell Trust, Christians Against Poverty and the Joint Public Issues Team. It is designed for congregations and small groups as a study resource – and is an excellent tool to help ensure a Christian voice and witness can be made in the context of an election year. As other resources and briefings from Church organisations are published, we’ll share them on the Church of Scotland website www.christianaid.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/act-on-poverty

Election campaigns can be difficult for candidates and campaigners. We are also asking you to remember in your prayers all those willing to offer their time and talents in the service of society and good government. Regardless of our own political opinion or those of candidates, we are mindful of the sacrifices many people and families have to make to stand for public office, especially at a time when we know of the frequent anger and hate which is directed to them on social media and through a level of political discourse which is frequently far from respectful. Let’s use the opportunity of this election to show that Churches can display the best of how we want our leaders to conduct themselves and be treated – with grace, kindness and thoughtfulness.

Voter registration and education

The Electoral Commission estimates that there are around eight million people in the UK who are eligible to vote but who are not registered. There are new requirements to present photo identification for in-person voting. Research suggests that potentially up to four million people will miss out on voting because they don’t have the required ID. And voter turnout is historically lower among younger people, those in rented accommodation or those who have recently moved house, people who live in an economically deprived area, or those from a UK ethnic minority. At a time of global political uncertainty, ensuring continued faith in our democratic principles and to counter baseless conspiracy theories is vital: elections are citizens’ chances to hold politicians to account as well as to make a choice about the future direction of our country.

We are encouraging congregations to sign up to the Voter Champions initiative, which asks organisations (including churches) to

• promote voter registration for their members

• highlight the need to bring acceptable photo ID to the polling station (and how to apply for this for free if needed)

• share or remind people how (and when) to vote (by post, proxy or on polling day).

Voter registration in particular is something that can be done at any time, but applications need to be processed well before election day, and so it is something which congregations can start to share now!

Visit www.voterchampion.org.uk for information and to sign up as an accredited supporter by clicking on the ‘Faith and Community Group’ button.

Hustings

Another really important and practical action that a local church can offer is to organise and host a constituency hustings (or election meeting), where questions can be put to different candidates.

This can be a great way to offer a chance for church and community members to meet the people standing to be their representative – which can be an important factor as well as the national party leadership and manifesto platform.

In the past these events have often been put on ecumenically and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland have produced helpful guidance for local church groups on how to organise a hustings. This includes practical tips about how to find out who the candidates are, suggestions for format (including running an online hustings), as well as important issues around electoral and charity law, to advise on how to keep your event impartial.

It can never be too early to start organising your planning group, even if we don’t know when the election will take place.

The guidance and information is available from the Elections and Hustings tab of the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office webpage www.scpo.scot, and from CTBI’s Churches Election website www.churcheselection.org.uk

Meet Your MP

After the election there is an important opportunity for churches and presbyteries to build positive relations with the new MPs. We already know that a number of sitting MPs are standing down, and current opinion polls suggest that in Scotland we may see several seats changing hands. The weeks after the election would be a great time for churches to invite their MP (new or re-elected) to come to meet the congregation.

The Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office has some suggestions to start a relationship as part of the Meet Your MP project, which could be as simple as inviting them to a service and to stay to chat over coffee afterwards, or to go for a walk around the parish together. Presbyteries might also like to consider inviting newly elected MPs to a presbytery event or meeting to create a space for meeting and encounter, to share ideas and exchange views.

Information at the Meet Your MP/MSP tab on the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office page www.scpo.scot

Regardless of the outcome of the election in a particular seat, or the final result in the House of Commons, we know that the Church of Scotland will remain committed to working positively to serve our communities and the nation as a whole, and that we do so based on our belief that engagement with the world is an integral part of Christian discipleship, and that we do so with characteristics of humility, grace and love.

David Bradwell is Public Life and Social Justice Manager & Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer in the Church of Scotland’s Faith Action Programme.