Economic theory has often led to election campaigns that centre on the individual’s needs of the here and now. ‘Discounted utility’ assumes that immediate gratification is worth more than reward later. Maybe you’ve watched the video where a young child is left in a room with a marshmallow and told …
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Week Two: The Outsiders
Lina's Story "At nine months pregnant, when she should have been picking out her baby’s first outfit, Lina received a letter from the Home Office stating that she would be evicted from her accommodation. “When I looked at the date of the letter, it was dated 27 April. On my due date”, she …
Churches hosting hustings: a good opportunity?
In a guest blog, Rev Bryan Kerr explores his experience of leading hustings events during elections. It was during an interview, as Tony Blair was answering a question on his faith, that his former director of strategy and communications Alastair Campbell, interrupted and quipped, “We don’t …
How many children are “Growing up Poor”?
There are a number of measures of child poverty and all agree that child poverty is rising. Tonight’s Channel 4’s Dispatches programme “Growing up Poor” gives some of the children affected by poverty the chance to tell their own stories – and is incredibly powerful as a result. It is great …
Preaching on the General Election
This December, many church leaders will find themselves with the opportunity to speak with their communities about the General Election. For some, this will be expected, and congregations will be looking for guidance. For others, this will be a step into new territory, and may face hostility from …
Love Pray Vote
As we approach a General Election on 12 December 2019, we’re inviting you to Love, Pray, Vote. But what does that look like? Love “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” John 15:12 Politics plays an important role in how our society is run. It helps to …
Counting the nuclear weapons money
A massive $1 trillion is being spent to maintain and modernize the nuclear arsenals of nine countries over the next 10 years. A trillion dollars is a difficult sum of money to imagine. The figure is a 1 with 12 zeros after it. To draw attention to this phenomenal spending on nuclear weapons, a group …
Called to bridge the divide: church leaders at the Conservative Party Conference
Delegations of church leaders from the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches, the Quakers and the Salvation Army attended the conferences of the main political parties this autumn. Revd Beth Allison-Glenny, Public Issues Enabler for the Baptist Union, reflects on her experience at the …
‘Days of challenge and vulnerability’: church leaders at the Labour Party Conference
Delegations of church leaders from the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches, the Quakers and the Salvation Army attended the conferences of the main political parties this autumn. Here, Simeon Mitchell reports on the Labour Party Conference. “It’s just horrendous, there is such an …
Introducing Cameron
Present Transitions I’ve been forced to think a lot about transitions recently. I’ve moved house three times in the last three months, graduated from university, moved to London having lived up North my whole life, and now I find myself starting my first “proper” job. Like most big changes, …