Key Takeaways:
- The UK’s Reform UK party has notable Christian figures, including Danny Kruger and James Orr, who hold influential positions and have strong views on social issues.
- Despite similarities with US right-wing politics, the UK’s evangelical population is smaller and more diverse in its political views.
- A recent poll shows that UK evangelicals are split in their support for political parties, with Labour leading at 26%, followed by Reform and the Liberal Democrats at 20%, and the Conservatives at 18%.
- UK evangelicals tend to have conservative views on social issues, but also support more generous welfare payments and are concerned about plans to legalize assisted dying.
- Religion plays a role in UK politics, but it is not as dominant as in the US, and Christian nationalism is not a significant force.
Introduction to the Role of Christianity in UK Politics
The presence of Christianity in UK politics has become more noticeable, particularly with the emergence of influential figures such as Danny Kruger and James Orr in the Reform UK party. Both Kruger and Orr are devout Christians who have come to their faith in adulthood and hold strong views on social issues like abortion and the family. They are also part of the advisory board of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, a right-wing thinktank led by Conservative peer Philippa Stroud. This raises questions about the potential influence of Christianity on UK politics and whether the country is heading down a similar path to the US, where Protestant evangelism has been a defining element of right-wing politics.
Comparisons with US Evangelicalism
While there are some links between UK and US evangelicalism, such as James Orr’s connection to JD Vance and the National Conservatism movement, the numbers tell a different story. The proportion of evangelicals in the UK is significantly lower than in the US, with only about 2.5% of the population identifying as evangelical, compared to around 25% in the US. Furthermore, UK evangelicals do not lean as firmly to the right as their US counterparts, with a recent poll showing that Labour leads among evangelicals with 26% support, followed closely by Reform and the Liberal Democrats. This suggests that the UK’s evangelical population is more diverse in its political views and not as easily swayed by right-wing ideologies.
The Views of UK Evangelicals
The poll of nearly 1,500 evangelicals conducted by the UK’s Evangelical Alliance (EA) provides valuable insights into the views of UK evangelicals. While they tend to have conservative views on social issues like abortion, they also support more generous welfare payments and are concerned about plans to legalize assisted dying. Danny Webster, the head of advocacy at the EA, notes that UK evangelicals are realistic about their minority views on social issues and may prioritize economic issues like poverty when voting. This nuanced approach to politics is reflected in the diversity of party support among evangelicals, with Labour, Reform, and the Liberal Democrats all receiving significant support.
The Role of Evangelism in Parliament
Evangelism is not limited to the right-wing of politics in the UK. There are cross-party prayer group meetings, and figures like Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat former leader, and Labour MP Rachael Maskell are open about how their faith shapes their politics. Maskell, in particular, has been vocal about the importance of moral justice in Labour politics, citing the party’s roots in ensuring a just system that serves the people. This highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of Christianity in UK politics, where faith can inform a range of political perspectives and ideologies.
The Rise of Christian Nationalism
A newer and more concerning trend in UK politics is the emergence of Christian nationalism, modeled on American ideas of religious nationalism. Figures like Tommy Robinson and Nick Tenconi have begun to present themselves as explicitly Christian, often in contrast to Islam and other religions. This has led to the formation of groups like King’s Army, which marched through London’s LGBT community in October, promoting a divisive and exclusionary form of Christianity. However, this trend remains relatively niche in UK politics, and critics argue that it is not representative of the broader Christian community in the country.
Conclusion and Future Implications
In conclusion, while Christianity plays a role in UK politics, it is not as dominant as in the US, and the evangelical population is more diverse in its political views. The influence of Christian nationalism is a concern, but it remains a minority trend. As the UK’s political landscape continues to evolve, it is essential to understand the complex and nuanced nature of Christianity in politics, recognizing both its potential to inform positive social change and its potential to be exploited for divisive and exclusionary purposes. By engaging with the views and values of UK evangelicals, politicians and policymakers can work towards creating a more just and equitable society that reflects the diversity of the country’s population.
