Zoe Dixon comments

Zoe Dixon

The days immediately following the General Election received unprecedented media attention. Public interest was at an all time high as people were left on tenterhooks, unable to tear themselves away from 24 hour news coverage as the future of British politics unfolded in front of their eyes.

The eventual Coalition Agreement was exciting. Full of hope and a promise the new Government aimed to create, "a strong, progressive coalition inspired by the values of freedom, fairness and responsibility...deliver radical, reforming government, a stronger society, a smaller state and power and responsibility in the hands of every citizen."

The question is, 100 days in, how is the coalition doing?

It seems everyone has a view. Unsurprisingly these vary dramatically. David Hughes from the Telegraph has given David Cameron the thumbs up and Nick Clegg the thumbs down. David Miliband thinks that the Lib Dems are going to be eaten by alligators and Rachel Sylvester from the Times says that the coalition is going so well that there might be further alliance in the next election!

Perhaps one of the most surprising elements of the coalition is the genuine rapport between the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister. Interestingly the critics looking for a split before Christmas seem to have become strangely quiet. As Jonathan Freedland commented in the Guardian 'those expecting the first months of this shotgun marriage to be shaken by loud rows between the newlyweds have been disappointed'.

Is there anything we can learn from this? For example, surely it is good when we have to work with people that we wouldn't normally associate with? Isn't it more reflective of real life to have to compromise to get things done?

Of course there will always be disagreements between the three main parities and that is absolutely essential for a healthy democracy. Isn't it refreshing though, to see people who disagree holding their tongues and getting down to the business of running the country? In the days following the election when the negotiations were in full swing, every press statement seemed to include the phrase 'strong and stable government'. I found this frustrating; it seemed people were all regurgitating the same line being fed to them. In hindsight however, I am fully convinced that the two parties, against their natural inclinations, were prepared to work together for the good of the country - to create a strong and stable government.

I believe that the so far successful relationship between these unnatural bedfellows can teach us something. It seems to me that this could provide a timely lesson for the importance of unity within church. Psalm 133 describes how wonderful it is when brothers dwell together in unity. It portrays it as precious oil poured on the head. The different political parties are united around the desire to see society transformed for the better. They may disagree on the means, but are united around the end. As Christians we have something stronger that unites us. We are the family of God, brothers and sisters with Christ, united by the knowledge of his saving grace and concerned with glorifying him in our lives. Yes we will always disagree on certain aspects of theology, but we need to be united around the essentials. What a witness it is to society when Christians from all different social and church backgrounds, of different ages, ethnicity, education and gender, come together to proclaim in one voice that they are united.

I also believe that our response to the coalition should be positive. I am not saying that we should not challenge institutions or political powers; on the contrary, we should get involved and challenge from the inside. I do however think that it's easy to throw rocks, accuse and pull down. As Christians we are called to build-up, persevere and serve.

It is hard for me to put aside my political affiliation, but last week when I heard that Ed Miliband plans to make the Lib Dems an endangered species and then extinct I found it incredibly upsetting. Firstly because I believe the Lib Dems are an important party, speaking out on issues which neither of the other parties address and secondly because it's so incredibly negative. We know that there is great distrust between the government and the people that it governs and comments like this are so negative that it just throws oil on the fire of discontent. It focuses on what divides rather than unites.

It would be great if this election sparked the start of a new politics where the best ideas win and put an end to the often pointless and terribly damaging haranguing between the parties.