A general election could be called soon, though perhaps delayed by the foot-and-mouth outbreak. (In any case, one will be called by May 2002). As part of the pre-election process, party workers have started to canvass people by phone, leaflet and doorstep visits.
They ask questions like 'How do you think the Government is doing?' and 'What issues cause you concern?' This is the best opportunity Christians may have to tell them of our concerns over issues on which our protests have been ignored. Be sure to have your say, in writing or face to face! Be firm! Be persistent! Be bold! But be polite too!
You may wish to commend the Government for their encouragement recently for faith-based schools. You may wish to commend other parties also. But the following is a reminder of some of the issues, past, present and future, which you may wish to raise when the candidate or his/her agent calls on you.
Issues which have disappointed us
1. Cloning of human beings
Just before Christmas, a larger than expected majority in the House of Commons voted to permit human cloning for research purposes. This will involve the creation and then destruction of human embryos, which Christians oppose on the grounds of the sanctity of human life. Although the Government maintains it is opposed to reproductive cloning, many think that this is now inevitable, as we have crossed the moral Rubicon on this issue.
ASK: Would he vote for removal of restrictions so as to allow reproductive cloning? Or would he support the reintroduction of a ban on all cloning of human embryos?
2. Euro Employment Directive
This was signed by Ministers on October 17 2000. It bans employers from discriminating on the grounds of disability, age, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. Religious organisations urged Government not to sign un-less the Directive was redrafted to allow, for example, churches and Christian organisations to employ only Christians. They expressed concern that the Directive could be used in legal proceedings against, say, a religious body which had dismissed a member of staff whose conduct was incompatible with their ethos. Government assurances on these points remain unconvincing and religious groups expect their stance to be tested in court.
ASK: Does the candidate believe that the Government should have signed up to this aspect of equal opportunities legislation against the wishes of religious people and their leaders?
3. Homosexual age of consent
This was reduced from 18 to 16 at the end of the last Parliamentary Session, by the rare use of the Parliament Acts following repeated defeats on this issue by the (reformed!) House of Lords. The attitude of Government on this matter was cavalier, when so much public opposition had been expressed.
ASK: In a representative democracy would the candidate choose to placate a small (but influential) minority rather than respect the expressed wishes of the majority? Is the candidate aware of the extreme health risks associated with the practices now legal for 16 year olds (boys and girls)? Would he not agree that equality would be better served by raising the age of consent for ALL sexual activity to 18?
(Note: The morning after the age of consent was reduced, the media made much of the alarming rise in the incidence of sexually-transmitted diseases, especially among young people - but no one seemed willing to make any connection between these things!)
4. Married tax allowance
ASK: Despite the extra money for 'families' in the Budget, does the candidate think that a 'pro-family' Government should abolish the Married Persons Allowance (which the present Chancellor has done)? Does he agree that a healthy society is built on strong and stable (yes, 'traditional') families, and that public policy should reflect this instead of trying to be 'non-judgmental' toward other types of household?
5. Homosexuals & the Forces
ASK: Does the candidate support the recent ruling (in the name of equality) allowing openly practising homosexuals to serve in HM Armed Forces? Go on to ask, if appropriate, how much more of the Stonewall programme of gay rights he would also support (e.g. 'gay marriages', adoptions by gay 'couples', etc).
Issues of on-going concern
1. Liquor licensing laws
The rich and influential drinks/entertainment industries have been trying to persuade the Government that these laws are restrictive and old fashioned - in short, they must be modernised! The Government is now consulting on options for the de-regulation of liquor licensing, whose present laws have developed over the last 200 years. By dismantling the existing laws, Sunday will be treated as just another day, there will be very few restrictions on pub opening times, and drink-related disruption can be spread across the 24 hours of every day! While decrying the 'yob' culture on the one hand, with the other the Government seems inclined to give it great practical encouragement.
ASK: What are the views of the candidate?
2. Review of sexual offences
The Government has launched a public consultation on its review of sexual offences. Amid some worthy ideas, the consultation mentions the liberalisation of the law on gay sex in public places. The Home Office wishes to replace gross indecency with a much weaker public order offence which does not discriminate against homosexuals. For various reasons, many would support continued legal discrimination against any overt display of homosexual behaviour in a public place.
ASK: What about the candidate?
3. Drugs policy
ASK: What does the candidate think about the possible softening of public policy regarding illegal drugs? Does he think the use of cannabis should be legalised? Or would he support the status quo - with perhaps more consistent and rigorous enforcement against cannabis users?
4. Parental rights
There remains (behind the scenes) a vigorous campaign to outlaw corporal punishment of every kind.
ASK: Does the candidate support it? Or does he believe that parents can be trusted to discipline their children by using, when appropriate, reasonable corporate punishment without interference by Government?
5. Radio licences
At present religious groups are legally barred from being granted digital radio and national analogue radio licences - despite the demand for such. The Broadcasting Act 1990 prevents religious broadcasters from having anything transmitted from the ground (as op-posed to satellite) other than a local radio analogue signal. There is strong competition for such licences and so far only one has been awarded (for AM / MW transmission only). No FM station run by a religious group has been allowed except under the very limited Restricted Service Licence.
ASK the candidate for his views, and press him to justify the present discrimination against Christian radio stations (actual or aspiring).
6. Section 28
The Government has repeatedly tried to repeal Section 28 (of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1986). This little clause forbids schools from presenting homosexuality as an acceptable alternative to heterosexual relationships. The Prime Minister calls it 'bad law', and gay rights activists loathe it. So far the House of Lords has refused to abolish Section 28, but the issue has not gone away and (if re-elected to govern) Labour will eventually try again.
ASK: Would he vote to retain Section 28? Would he support its extension to include the 'health promotion' activities of health authorities and other publicly funded bodies? Ask him (if he is unclear) whether he can recall why Section 28 was introduced in the first place.
7. Euthanasia
A Private Member's Bill to outlaw euthanasia was blocked from further progress because the Government refused to support it. The Bill would have made it illegal for doctors to deliberately end the life of their patients by withdrawing food and water (which has been permissible since 1993 under the Tony Bland ruling). Doctors remain officially opposed to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.
ASK the candidate to clearly state his views.
Note: The above list is not comprehensive, and many other questions might be asked. However, the above have featured prominently in recent months. There may be matters not mentioned above for which the candidate or his party deserves commendation and support.
Check out: Christian Institute 0191 281 5664, www.christian.org.uk. LDOS 01372 728300, www.lordsday.co.uk CARE 020 7233 0455, www.care.org.uk
Compiled by a member of West Park Evangelical Church, Wolverhampton.
