David Burrowes on Christians getting involved in politics

David Burrowes

In the past few Parliaments, many groups disproportionate to their size have had major influence on politics in this country and the political process. Now is the time, in the run up to the General Election 2010, for Biblically-minded Christians to let the Government know that we have a voice and that we want to be heard. 'Christians and Candidates' provides a forum for the Christian voice to be heard, by gathering Prospective Parliamentary Candidates together and asking them what they believe about key issues, such as: the sanctity of life, the importance of marriage and the need for religious liberty. It has received support from a number of Christian leaders.

CCFON spoke with David Burrowes; elected as Member of Parliament in May 2005 and in July 2007 appointed as Shadow Minister for Justice.

David: I've been a Member of Parliament for Enfield, Southgate, an area that I've grown up in and live; and it's a great privilege to be able to represent it; I have done for nearly getting on to five years in May. I'm presently Shadow Justice Minister with responsibility for youth justice and victims of crime.

CCFON: Why should Christians engage in mainstream politics?

David: I very much support active involvement in main stream party politics in the Conservative party. I also support Christians who are engaged in the Liberal Democrats, the Christian Liberal Democrat Forum and Labour party with the Christian Socialist Movement. I think that there's an authentic role for Christians to be involved in all the major political parties and I can respect that. I mean I chose the Conservative path and I'm very comfortable in that. My concerns about some of the principles of the Conservative Party around the freedom for the individual and the concern for the family and marriage and the concern for the most vulnerable, ensuring the state doesn't get so involved in all manner of forms in our lives. Those sorts of principles under girded my involvement with the Conservative Party. I think there's an authentic route in all the major parties. The Conservative Christian Fellowship was born out of a concern actually that Christians shouldn't just simply mobilise themselves in an individual party; the move for Christian democracy was around at the time. I felt the response for Christians should be to be actively engaged in the political parties; to be influencing within and to be making an impact there. There's a real opportunity for that to happen and I don't see enough of that happening.

CCFON: What are the key issues for Christians at the coming election?

David: Christians have concerns about the present legislation and how it's taken a view; the equalities bill and other areas around issues of morality, issues of family relationships and issues of sexuality. We need to challenge candidates about that and ask the question - are you really going to be standing up for marriage, standing up for the family and really challenging people about that; but also challenge people about issues of religious liberty; again those have been under attack in recent years. We need to make sure that candidates are going to go through those lobbies, supporting the freedom and space for religious organisations be they people preaching or be they people actively engaged in the community who are Christians employed, so that they have the space to go about in the freedom of belief; and not just belief in thought but in action, which go hand in hand for committed Christians.

CCFON: Can Christian MPs make a difference?

David: I'd like to give an example of one particular vote that happened soon after being elected that really just struck home to me the importance of having Christians elected as members of parliament. We had the Religious Hatred bill. I know that CCFON were very active in lobbying and praying hard on that issue. The real debate was about providing religious freedom; freedom to be able to criticise, freedom to be able to preach on the street corner our faith. That was under threat by the Government's legislation. We had the amendments and the laws and it came back to us. It got down to the vote. At the end of the day there was one vote in it. We won by one vote - protected freedom of speech. I was able to say that my one vote in that division lobby was crucial, because I know that my predecessor would have voted the other way and so you know votes count and individual members of parliament can make a difference.

CCFON: What can Christians do to affect the election?

David: Inscribed in the middle of central lobby are the very words of Psalm 127:1, 'unless the Lord builds the house, the labourers work in vain'. Now unless the Lord builds the house, now who should be the Lord's house? Well you know his people and his people need to be there. So we need to be ensuring that candidates know that. There are a good number of Christians around that have a loud voice, but a loud voice that's informed and also has a wide breadth of concern about issues ranging from poverty to sexuality; from liberty to family life and beyond; let's make sure that we're really active. Active also in going to those hustings that are happening, often organised by churches. If your church isn't organising hustings, arrange one because there are all too few hustings around for candidates. Why not write to the candidates to come and visit a church. Come and visit a church project. They'd love the opportunity. Some don't know what to do over a campaign. They'd love an opportunity to go in and visit, then you can develop and have a conversation with someone, that goes beyond just a hustings debate and really gets down to the ground and sees what they're like. I think it's also important to write to the candidates; perhaps you need to ask them, all of them, are there issues you want us to pray about and see how they respond; as well as then writing a letter to them asking what are your views about these particular issues? We need to humble ourselves before God and pray for the nation; but also be very smart in the way we pray. Pray for particular candidates; candidates who are facing real battles against other candidates who are really against the Christian way. I suppose my final plea is for Christians to vote. I went to a meeting where I understood that less than eighty percent of the Christians would vote. That's less than two out of ten if not three will not vote. That really is not acceptable. We're obliged as Christians at the very least to be engaged in this business of government, which is God's business. I would implore Christians to vote. If you're not registered, find out from me or any others about how to register and vote. Make sure that your neighbour and friends - don't assume they're registered - make sure they're voting as well.