Politics

This week has seen some curious developments in both the Government and Opposition. The most curious was Jeremy Corbyn’s attempt to reshuffle his front bench. He took three days to sack two Shadow Ministers – Michael Dugher and Pat McFadden.

On 11th September the House of Commons will debate Rob Marris’ Assisted Dying Bill. Marris came first in the Private Members’ Ballot and his Bill is the fifth attempt to establish in law a right to die, given various safeguards.

The media response to the election of Tim Farron was profoundly shocking. John Humphrey’s asked him mockingly whether he asked for God’s advice before making a major decision. 

After May’s election I questioned how democratic it was. 

This is the second in a series about Britain’s membership of the EU. The aim is to help Christians to prepare for the promised referendum. The Bill authorising it was given a Second Reading on Tuesday (544 votes to 53). The details have still to be agreed but the referendum will happen and the outcome will have major consequences for us all. In my last blog I examined the origins […]

This was Her Majesty’s 62nd Queen’s Speech with which she opened the new Parliament and set out the government’s legislative programme for the next year. The Conservative election manifesto made most of its contents predictable. The message the Prime Minister wants us to believe is that his government will “adopt a one nation approach, helping working people get on, supporting aspiration and bringing different parts of the country together.” What will […]

Parliament will be dissolved on Monday (30th March) and the election campaigns will then go full ahead. The party manifestos will be launched soon after. This Thursday (26th March) Cameron and Miliband will be interviewed separately in a 90 minute programme on Channel 4 and Sky. All seven party leaders will appear together on ITV on 2nd April and the five opposition party leaders will participate in a BBC programme. Party […]

On 26th March the 0.7% of GDP that Britain gives in overseas aid was made law, binding on future governments. The UKIP manifesto proposes that this is repealed and the aid budget is slashed by two-thirds. A lot of Christians campaigned to ‘make poverty history’ and supported the UN’s 0.7% target so this issue merits some careful analysis.

The election campaigns roll on. The party manifestos are all out and the television debates broadcast. So what do they tell us? What are the values that will determine your vote and mine? I have the privilege as Premier’s Political Editor to knowing some of the former Christian MPs, now candidates. They are members of different parties, each emphasising different priorities, so how do I choose for whom to cast […]