Christians 'wasting' votes on main parties, says party leader

Christians in the UK have been warned that to place their vote on the ballot sheet for one of the main political parties is a “wasted vote”.

The Rev George Hargreaves, leader of the Christian Party, claims that since the last General Election two vital changes have taken place in British Politics, and is calling for Churches to take a lead in helping to create a new Parliament.

Mr Hargreaves said: “In former times, the leaders of political parties would respect the faith and conscience views of Christian MPs, even those in the cabinet, and so they could influence the political process for good.

"Now, all the main parties have followed a liberal and secular agenda and all MPs, particularly Ministers and Shadow Ministers, must follow the party Whip or loose their position.

"Therefore, the impact and influence Christian MPs can have inside the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat Parties etc. is extremely small."

He said the MP’s expenses scandal has led to a "deep mistrust" of politicians amongst the public.

"Even Christian MPs were told to keep quiet about the system by their parties and so this once again proves that you cannot be a Christian and retain your conscience within the main stream parties," he said.

The Christian Party, which is putting up 120 candidates at the next election, believes there is a clear majority in the United Kingdom which treasures its Christian roots, even if they are not active church members. With millions of parents sending their children to church schools for the ethical stance they take, Mr Hargreaves said he hoped to tap into that level of concern come the next election.

He said: “A hostile non-Christian liberal elite now dominates all the main political parties and want to destroy what is left of our Christian culture and legacy.

"They pay lip service to wanting churches to take an active role in community life, and yet, as soon as any Christian says publicly what motivates and focuses their service to others, they are gagged for fear of offending someone.

"Grants from local and central bodies are almost impossible to obtain unless you are prepared to remain silent about what you really believe as a Christian.”

Mr Hargreaves pointed to the example of Stephen Timms, Labour MP for East Ham, as someone who was a sincere practising Christian who has to take the Labour Party Whip and vote accordingly "regardless of whether the policies are godly and satisfy his conscience".

Recognising the watershed in the nature of British political history, the Christian Party has taken the unprecedented step of issuing a draft Pre-Election Manifesto in order that church leaders and individual Christians can scrutinise it carefully, and use it as a benchmark against the upcoming election promises of the other main parties.

Mr Hargreaves said: “Many consistencies have small majorities and with the expenses saga, the new ways that parties are whipping their MPs, despite their consciences, the 2010 General Elections provides a very real possibility for the first time, to elect genuinely open Christian MPs, who will have no party-political influence on the way they serve their electorate.

"This is a watershed in British politics and I very much hope church leaders and individual Christians will use their vote wisely and strategically in the election, and not waste it voting for people to be MPs who silence the Christian voice and thwart any Christian influence at national level.”