'Politics needs people of faith,' says Timms

Labour MP and committed Christian Stephen Timms has urged Christians not to be put off entering into politics, saying that it is possible to be a politician without having to compromise religious beliefs.

Timms, Labour MP for East Ham and Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, told Christians at CARE's "An Audience With..." event on Friday that being a politician and a Christian is no more conflicting than being a Christian in any other job.

"I think a lot of Christians do not get involved [in politics] because they fear a conflict of morals - but it does not happen that much," said Timms.

He added, "Politics really needs input from people of faith."

Timms was joined at the event - part of Pentecost Festival - by fellow Christian MPs, David Burrowes, Conservative MP for Enfield Southgate and Shadow Justice Minister, and Simon Hughes, Lib Dem MP for Southwark North and Bermondsey and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons.

Asked why politicians appear so reluctant to talk about faith publicly, the panel said that most MPs do actually discuss faith regularly but the media is either indifferent or hostile towards the issue.

The panel referred to former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who recently admitted that he did not talk about his faith publicly for fear of being branded "a nutter".

Timms said, "Tony Blair did talk of faith before being elected [Prime Minister] and he got a lot of negative press."

All three MPs unanimously agreed that being a Christian actually helped their work as MPs rather than hinder it.

Burrowes admitted that the busy schedule of an MP meant he had "less quality time with God", but he added that being a Christian gave a "positive tension" when deciding how to vote on Parliamentary bills.

The debate was chaired by Andy Frost, head of Share Jesus International and key organiser of the first ever Pentecost Festival, which saw Christians demonstrate the gospel across central London through the arts, debate, teaching, worship and social engagement.