Evangelicals and Reform UK

Dear Editor,

I was saddened to read Tim Farron’s article in the July edition of en, where he used his platform to “take a pop” at a rival political party.

I regard Tim Farron as an honest, and honourable, politician; however Christians can fairly take different stances on the political issues of the day. He should accept many Christians support and, like myself, have joined Reform UK because we feel their values and policies most align with Biblical values.

I notice of the 72 Liberal Democrat MPs, only Tim and one other MP from the Lib Dems voted against the recent change to abortion. While all the Reform MPs voted against (except Nigel Farage, who had been to a funeral). Reform is the party that most clearly support marriage and family life. Such as their recent announcement on supporting marriage in the tax system.

Tim Farron claims Reform offer “easy assurances and populist appeal”; he can hold that view of course, but I believe that Reform have the courage and backbone to get things actually done. We have seen decades of weak ineffective politicians who promise things without pushing through and actually achieving what they promise, hence the lack of trust. My local branch of Reform UK have also done what the Lib Dems do, go out speak to people, knock on doors, making those personal connections he speaks so well of.

He takes a cheap jibe at Nigel Farage for not “embedding himself” in Clacton, where he is currently buying a house. But, as Tim Farron surely knows, being an ex-party leader himself, it takes time building up your party and speaking out to the media to be the voice of your party. Nigel Farage spent weeks touring the country before the local elections, it’s what party leaders do. Reform have come from being a small party to one that is favourite to win the next General Election in a very short space of time. They won’t get everything right, but currently provide people with hope. Hope, we know, can only find its true home and fulfilment in Jesus alone, but a small dose of hope that our country can revive in our roots of “Family, Community and Country” is no bad thing.

Yours sincerely,
Trevor Bell
Member of the preaching team at Birchwood Community Church and Press Secretary of Warrington Reform UK branch

Dear Editor,

As a former Liberal Democrat county councillor who is now a member of Reform UK, I read Tim Farron’s article with interest.

It is first important to highlight that no party can claim to have all the wisdom needed to run a nation or a council. We need Christians in politics across all parties.

I agree with Tim that there is deep public distrust towards MPs, government and institutions. The huge surge in membership of Reform over the past year partly reflects the public sense that the current parties, and the way the country operates, do not reflect the views and concerns of many of the electorate.

For Reform voters, the half-hearted, obstructive manner in which the Leave vote has been implemented is a key example, but there is a much wider sense of politicians and public bodies being detached from what many people think, and pressing on with their own policies regardless. This has most recently been seen with the abortion and assisted dying legislation where, particularly for the former, even many non-Christians felt it was a step too far, and yet MPs voted in favour.

There is a disdain for views which do not fit with the prevailing opinions of the fashionable establishment, and evangelical Christians across the political spectrum have particularly experienced this (Tim Farron’s own treatment by his party being a key example).

In addition to this, there is also a ‘can’t be done’ attitude across public services which people are weary of. All that is offered is more of the same, even where that is mediocre.

It is the recognition that this country can do better which is leading many towards Reform UK. In a recent by-election in my home Calderdale Council area, Reform won, despite a previous Labour majority of over 1,000. How? By doing what Tim was advocating, of going door-to-door to hear what people’s concerns are, but crucially, not just listening and sympathising as he said, but also with a determination to act.

In the Bible, kings and leaders are praised not just for being godly, but also for the wise decisions they took. We need Christians who will stand for election and provide the wise, bold decisions this nation desperately needs.

Yours sincerely,

Jeff Featherstone
Halifax