Archbishops urge voters to shun BNP

|PIC1|The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have appealed to voters not to let the MPs’ expenses scandal drive them into protest voting for the BNP.

Dr Rowan Williams and Dr John Sentamu said it would be “tragic” if the “understandable sense of anger and disillusionment” over recent revelations about MPs’ expenses led voters to shun the European parliamentary and local elections on June 4.

The Archbishops said it was “crucial” to vote for candidates who would uphold democratic values and work for the common good “in a spirit of public service, which urgently needs to be reaffirmed in these difficult days”.

They appealed to voters to demonstrate “great vigilance” at the ballot box.

They went on to warn that some would try to exploit the current political situation “to advance views that are the very opposite of the values of justice, compassion and human dignity [that] are rooted in our Christian heritage”.

"Christians have been deeply disturbed by the conscious adoption by the BNP of the language of our faith when the effect of those policies is not to promote those values but to foster fear and division within communities, especially between people of different faiths or racial background,” they said.

"This is not a moment for voting in favour of any political party whose core ideology is about sowing division in our communities and hostility on grounds of race, creed or colour; it is an opportunity for renewing the vision of a community united by mutual respect, high ethical standards and the pursuit of justice and peace.”

The latest appeal from the Archbishops follows a vote in the Church’s General Synod in February banning membership in the BNP.

Other denominational leaders have distanced themselves from the BNP’s attempts to fashion itself as the party for Christians. Concerns were raised after the far right party launched a poster campaign earlier in the year featuring Jesus and quoting John 15.20, in which Jesus says: “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

The advert then asks: “What would Jesus do?”

The advert prompted the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church to launch a briefing pack explaining the importance of participating in the democratic and urging members not to vote for the BNP.

In the toolkit, churches are advised to keep track of the BNP’s electoral performance and publicity material, and develop solutions to the concerns of the local community that are not based on the politics of fear and hatred. The toolkit also recommends that local churches unite in speaking out against racist political organisations.

The Rev Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, said: “The toolkit for local church leaders is designed to help equip ministers and lay people alike with ideas and information about what they can do to counter racist politics.

“The appropriation of Christian language and imagery by the BNP is deeply offensive – we need churches across Britain to live out a faith that is open and inclusive, rooted in a commitment to love our neighbours as we love ourselves.”

Methodist President the Rev Stephen Poxon said, “Voting isn’t just a right - it is a privilege that carries great responsibility. A high turnout at the ballot box is good for democracy and society and will make it harder for extremist parties to succeed.”