So, we are off, Rishi Sunak has confirmed the date of the General Election and it will be on July 4th. This morning and right up to and through Prime Minister’s Question, the Prime Minister was staying coy and saying no more than it would be in the second half of the year. That’s technically true of course, just. However, I suspect that most people assumed that this meant after the summer rather than just into the seventh month.
It must also have been hard for Sunak to keep a straight face given that he’d called a Cabinet meeting for 4pm when usually Cabinet doesn’t meet in the morning but this would of course be after the PM’s weekly audience with the King. News that top ministers were being summoned back made it impossible to deny that big news was coming.
News channels have been discussing why Rishi has opted to go now. The choice to go early rather than wait to the winter is perhaps fairly obvious. With major spending commitments made and it looking unlikely that there could be tax cuts or interest rate cuts and likely more court cases blocking the Rwanda plan then the view seems to be that there was no point in waiting.
Another reason for going sooner rather than later is perhaps the hope that this will reduce the ability of Reform to recruit candidates into all constituencies. Currently the most optimistic polls for the Conservatives have them in the mid- twenties with Reform on about 10-11%. If Reform can only put candidates into half the seats that might reduce their national poll share putting the Conservatives closer to 30% and avoiding total wipeout.
I’m personally more interested in why he made the announcement this evening. First of all, he didn’t need to announce the election for a couple more weeks. Presumably he has opted for a long campaign (6 weeks rather than 3-4) in the hope that Labour’s campaign will fall apart, that something will go wrong for Starmer. This was of course John Major’s intention in 1997 but it simply didn’t work for him. Theresa May had little choice over the length of the campaign in 2017 due to needing to get the decision through a super majority in parliament under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act. The long campaign didn’t go well for her and in the end the Tories were relieved that it didn’t go on another week.
So, something encouraged Sunak to go early. Another possibility is that something forced him to move quickly, possibly further defections or a flurry of letters of no-confidence. Whatever, an evening announcement as the sun goes down in the pouring rain with protestors given time to organise and drown him out hardly gives the impression of a man going at the moment of his own choosing.
If the exact timing was not a surprise, we were not surprised that the election was coming this year. The current parliament would have run out in January 2025 anyway. So I’ve already shared some thoughts about how Christiams should approach an election. You can read those comments here.and here.
I will try and share further thoughts on how we approach our own voting decisions as believers as the campaign goes on. In summary though. First, I do not believe that Christians are under a civic obligation to vote. It is perfectly permissible to refuse the dilemma set before you, either because you cannot choose between the lesser of two evils or because you are simply disinterested.
Second, when making a choice, there are some crucial things we need to consider. First, it is important to remember that we are choosing a government. Character matters and Christians should be looking at the principles and character of those they are voting for, both at a local level and nationally.
Then, we need to remember that underlying politics are genuine philosophical differences. Now, it isn’t clear cut. Parties will compromise, steal each other’s clothes etc. However, there is in general a choice between two main approaches, a free market, centre right approach and a more interventionist, left-wing approach. It’s important to avoid caricatures such as that one side is uncaring, for the rich etc or that another couldn’t care less about our nation’s security. The reality is that many people on all sides of politics are there out of good motives, they care deeply about the country and are compassionate for the poor and vulnerable. This means that there isn’t a specifically Christian political philosophy and a right way to vote. However, the ideas matter because those philosophies may or may not be well intentioned but the crucial question is whether or not they will work, will they deliver economic well-being, a secure country and look after the vulnerable. It’s important to think through the philosophies and work out where you stand.
Finally, there’s a matter of competence. Who is best able to run the country. This means looking at what the Government has done in office. Where has it done well. Where has it got things badly wrong? Then there’s the opposition. It’s of course 14 years since Labour were in power. Few shadow cabinet ministers have any experience of high office. However, Labour have been in office at a local level, leading councils providing mayors in London and Manchester, running Wales. So, they do have a track record. You can also get a feel for competency based on how Keir Starmer has led his party.
It’s going to be a long campaign. I fear that it’s not going to be the most illuminating or enjoyable for anyone but the most die-hard political anoraks. I suspect it’s going to rather personal and probably dirty. There may be some surprised along the way.
Whether or not you choose to vote and whoever you chose to vote for, there is a responsibility we do have as Christians. I don’t believe that there is a requirement on us to vote a particular way or to vote at all. We do have a duty to submit to those in authority and we are to pray for them. I believe that this should include praying for this election.
Faithroots 