I’m writing this the morning after the Election Hustings. You should read it before the General Election, although those with postal votes may have already voted.
I did enjoy the hustings. I wasn’t sure if I would, it’s always difficult when you organise something to know how it will all come together, especially when it’s organised by e-mails and the various ways that people respond (or don’t respond) to e-mail. We didn’t know if anyone would come, or if the format – which we knew was unfamiliar, would work. In the end we had around 100 people engaged in thinking about the political future of the town and country, we had a format that gave the candidates an opportunity to engage in conversations with people, as well as make their points from the platform. We covered a whole range of issues that I felt gave us a chance to hear candidates views on local, national and ethical issues and see the way they handled each.
I find choosing who to vote for tricky because I want to vote for a person who will be a good constituency MP, as well as think about which party I would prefer to form the government. I look at the official party manifesto, trying to get a sense for which one is closest to my own thinking, but sometimes find myself drawn in to a vote against a party or trying to work out which are least bad options. Sometimes I have voted for policies I want, even though I know they have no chance of winning and in one local election I voted for policies I didn’t particularly agree with because I liked the candidate and wanted to encourage their approach towards local people. Hence why I’ve always found hustings useful to see how each candidate responds to that complicated mix of factors. Last night I was pleased to see that the candidates engaged well with people and in particular that those most likely to become Loughborough’s MP will (I think) be a good constituency MP whatever their party policies.
Finally, I will pray. For our faith and our politics can not be neutral. They inform one another and they should always be in a deep informative conversation.
A General Election Prayer
May love surround our discussions;
May love inform our policies;
May love organise our debate.
May prayer uphold our campaigning;
May prayer enlighten our opinion;
May prayer determine our mark.
May our votes be cast for kindness;
May our votes be cast for truthfulness;
May our votes be cast in love.
Be blessed
Craig