The current election promises to be one of the closest – and most important – in a generation. Polls have been remarkably consistent for a long time, all predicting a ‘Hung Parliament’. How have we got here?
Why No Clear Winner?
Surely the Conservatives ought to have won an overall majority in 2010 against a weak and ineffective Labour administration that had run out of steam – and thus ought to be able now to win a second term outright. Conversely, why have Labour been unable to position themselves as a Government-in-waiting, as in 1995-7, given the Coalition’s rather modest achievements?
Motivating Voters
An important factor in winning an election is the degree to which voters can be motivated and engaged. Reviewing the key achievements of the last five years of the Conservative/LibDem Coalition, it is hard to see much to praise from a biblical standpoint. Modest progress has been made to reduce the deficit, and although many more people have a job than five years ago, we should not ignore the reality that Chancellor Osborne has been as addicted to debt as was Chancellor Brown.
Coalition’s Record
The deficit is less than it was five years ago, but the National Debt is vastly higher. Some disincentives to work and bureaucratic control over education have been reduced. However, from a biblical perspective, the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013 and the non-binding vote on recognising Palestine are of great concern. Both are symptomatic of the change in values that characterise 'modern' Britain today: the abandonment of traditional Judaeo-Christian understandings of sexuality and personal behaviour, and the rejection of Israel, both in favour of humanistic values and worldview.
A Good Manifesto
Political manifestoes are intended to set out what a party will do in office. A good manifesto will state the sort of policies that the party will seek to implement. Some party manifestoes reflect timeless values; others seek to reflect changes in society. Given the huge changes in the past decade we should not be surprised that the main party manifestoes are quite similar and reflect humanism rather than traditional Judaeo-Christian values.
The Present Manifestoes
Of the major parties, the Liberal Democrats have the most humanistic manifesto, but the Conservatives’ and Labour’s are also essentially humanistic. The Green Party’s values are a mixture of humanism and paganism. The SNP’s values combine humanism with nationalism; whereas UKIP’s combine nationalism with traditionalism. None of the major parties show any concern for biblical values.
Political Chaos
The key reason for the present political impasse is that our politicians have pursued a humanistic agenda, while neglecting the biblical values that were at least acknowledged by former generations of politicians. A measure of God’s judgement on us as a nation will be a change from the two-party stability that 'first past the post' gives to us, to a chaotic situation after 7 May in which the only two parties that can form a coalition together will be the Conservatives and Labour. In such a scenario government will be very difficult indeed, with each vote potentially requiring its own coalition to enable it to be passed.
Judgement
While such a scenario might be the natural end for a campaign without a clear winner, it should also be seen as judgement by God on a country and in particular on a parliament that has been greatly blessed by him in times past but which has rejected him, his word, and his values.
Such a scenario does not take into account the wider global situation and the likelihood of a multi-dimensional crisis affecting us all and requiring an urgent Government response. What will it be? Will it be humanistic, or can it be more in line with biblical values? The challenge will be for Christians both to pray and to witness actively in the public square, before the election and beyond.
