- Christian Party (UK)
-
Christian Party 
Leader George Hargreaves Founded 2005 Ideology Christianity,
Euroscepticism,
Christian rightPolitical position Right-wing National affiliation Alliance for Democracy International affiliation None European affiliation None European Parliament Group None Official colours Violet Website http://www.christianparty.org.uk/ Politics of the United Kingdom
Political parties
ElectionsThe Christian Party, also called the Scottish Christian Party and Welsh Christian Party,[1] is a minor political organisation in Great Britain. Its leader is the Reverend George Hargreaves.
Contents
Operation Christian Vote
The party originated as Operation Christian Vote, which was founded by Hargreaves in May 2004. It was based in Ilford, London.[2] The party contested the 2004 European Elections in the Scotland constituency,[3] gaining 1.8% of the popular vote.
Hargreaves was a candidate for Operation Christian Vote in the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election, where he received 90 votes, last place in a field of seven candidates, and lost his deposit. In the 2005 general election, Hargreaves stood in Na h-Eileanan an Iar, where he placed fourth, ahead of the Conservatives, and retained his deposit with 1,048 votes, or 7.6%.
The group was involved in protests, such as at Glasgow.[4]
The party became known as the Christian Party at the end of 2005.
Policies
The party claims to use the talents of Christians in different callings to legislate against religious, spiritual, moral and social problems in society.[5]
At the time of the Scottish election in 2007, the Scottish Christian Party produced a manifesto[6] including the following:
- a proposed referendum on the reinstitution of the death penalty for murder where there are at least two human witnesses.
- legislation to ban abortion.
- increased taxation on alcohol and tobacco.
- initiatives to bring personal responsibility to bear upon "self-inflicted disease" (such as alcoholism).
- zero tolerance on drug possession.
- curfews for under-11-year-olds, with mandatory intervention of child protection agencies in relation to any child 10 years or younger who is found unaccompanied on the street after 9:00pm.
- the reintroduction of the right of teachers to use corporal punishment in extreme circumstances.
- greater observance of a weekly day of rest (Sunday).
- limits around coastlines to preserve stocks of fish and sand eels.
- promotion in school of chastity before marriage.
- re-instatement of Section 2A (also known as Section 28).
- the re-introduction of corporate readings from the Bible in all Scottish state schools.
- provision of Christian religious education on a mandatory basis, with no obligation to promote other faiths, regardless of the wishes of those being instructed or their parents. There currently exists a level of compulsory Christian observance in most British schools,[7][8][9] so these policies are calling for this to be increased.
- a "science" curriculum which should "reflect the evidence of creation/design" in the universe (see Creation-evolution controversy).
- public health campaigns to discourage homosexuality alongside excessive drinking and the use of addictive substances, whilst maintaining "God loves and we should love" such individuals.
- the restoration of the right for parents to smack their children (as with prayer, this right currently exists and the policy is a call for an increase).
- "Mind Pollution Levy" on 18 certificate films, DVDs, CDs, video games and top-shelf magazines.
- a re-establishment of the principle of the innocent party in a divorce being acknowledged in any divorce settlement.
- discouragement of the practice of addressing women as "Ms.".
- opposition to the practice of altering birth certificates to reflect gender confirmation surgery.
- replacing the standard of 'beyond reasonable doubt' with the more biblical 'evidence of two or three reliable witnesses' in the criminal justice system.
- that Mechanical Copyright Protection enjoyed by songwriters should be extended to featured recording artists and record producers.
- that a minimum royalty percentage (the level of which should be decided through consultation with the music industry) should be paid to featured recording artists and producers on exactly the same basis as is currently paid to songwriters.
- Increased restrictions on immigration.
In Wales the party wants to change the Welsh flag, because it views the red dragon as a satanic symbol; they would replace it with the cross of Saint David.[10]
Electoral performance
The Rev Hargreaves (2nd from left in candidates line-up) and other candidates who contested the Glasgow Baillieston constituency in the Scottish Parliament election, 2007.
Candidates from the party stood in Sedgefield by-election, 2007 and Ealing Southall by-election, 2007. The party got 26,575 votes (0.7%) in the 2007 Scottish Parliament election and 8,693 votes (0.9%) in the 2007 Welsh Assembly Election; it did not come close to winning any seats.
Hargreaves stood for the party at the Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008 and got 76 votes or 0.3% of the total votes cast.
The party competed in the 2009 European elections retaining one deposit in the London region through gaining 51,336 votes (2.9%).
In the 2010 United Kingdom general election, the party stood 71 candidates, gaining 18,623 votes.
Registration as a party
The party was registered by the Electoral Commission on 29 April 2004, with the name 'Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship!"'.[1] It has registered nine Party Descriptions, and two translations, to be used on ballot papers, namely:
- Christian Party
- Christian Party (Scotland)
- Christian Party (Wales)
- Scottish Christian Party
- Scottish Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship"
- The Christian Party
- The Scottish Christian Party
- Welsh Christian Party
- Welsh Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship"
- Plaid Gristionogol Cymru
- Plaid Gristionogol Cymru "Datgan Arglwyddiaeth Crist"
See also
- Alliance for Democracy
- The Christian Peoples Alliance is another Christian party in the UK
- Politics of Scotland
References
- ^ a b "Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship"". Register of political parties. The Electoral Commission. 2004-04-29. http://registers.electoralcommission.org.uk/regulatory-issues/regpoliticalparties.cfm?frmGB=1&frmPartyID=497&frmType=partydetail. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
- ^ http://www.whfp.com/1677/editor.html
- ^ "Scotland On Sunday". http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=643822004.
- ^ "Christian right forces attack "blasphemous" British television comedy". http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/spri-j18.shtml.
- ^ "Highlands and Islands Branch of SCP". http://www.highlandsandislandschristianparty.co.uk.
- ^ "SCP Manifesto". http://christianparty.homestead.com/l_manifesto.pdf.
- ^ "Religious assemblies 'to go on'". BBC News. 28 April 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3666211.stm. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ "School worship 'has to continue'". BBC News. 15 August 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4794993.stm. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ "Plan for school assembly opt-out". BBC News. 14 January 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7827291.stm. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_headline=christian-group-wants--evil--welsh-flag-changed&method=full&objectid=18700606&siteid=50082-name_page.html
External links
- The Christian Party website
- Scottish Christian party website
- Welsh Christian party website
- Electoral Commission record for the Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship"
- The Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship": Statement of accounts for the year ending 31 December 2006
- and Islands Christian Party website
- 2007 Scottish Christian Party Manifesto
- 2011 Welsh Christian Party Manifesto
- TimesOnline article: "One of these men is a Bible-thumping moralist, the other a gay activist, but which one wrote the hit So Macho?"
- Christian right forces attack “blasphemous” British television comedy
- Scottish Christian Party face fines for illegal posters
- Scottish Christian Party call in police
Political parties in the United Kingdom House of Commons (650): Conservatives (307) · Labour (258, including 28 Labour Co-operative)* · Liberal Democrats (57) · DUP (8) · SNP (6) · Sinn Féin† (5) · Plaid Cymru (3) · SDLP (3) · Greens (E&W) (1) · Alliance (1) · Independent (1)House of Lords (789): Labour (243) · Conservatives (218) · crossbenchers (182) · Liberal Democrats (92) · Lords Spiritual (26) · DUP (4) · UUP (4) · UKIP (2) · Plaid Cymru (1) · Conservative Independent (1) · Independent Labour (1) · non-affiliated (16)Scottish Parliament (129): SNP (69) · Scottish Labour (37) · Scottish Conservatives (15) · Scottish Liberal Democrats (5) · Scottish Greens (2) · Independent (1)National Assembly for Wales (60): Northern Ireland Assembly (108): DUP (38) · Sinn Féin (29) · UUP (16) · SDLP (14) · Alliance (8) · Greens (NI) (1) · Traditional Unionist Voice (1) · Independent (1)London Assembly (25): European Parliament
(72 of 736):Conservatives (ECR, 25, including 1 UCUNF)‡ · Labour (PES, 13) · UKIP (EFD, 13) · Liberal Democrats (ELDR, 11) · BNP (Non-Inscrit, 2) · Greens (E&W) (EGP, 2) · SNP (EFA, 2) · Plaid Cymru (EFA, 1) · Sinn Féin (EUL-NGL, 1) · DUP (Non-Inscrit, 1)Other national and regional parties: Christian Peoples Alliance · Christian · Communist Party of Britain · English Democrats · Independent Working Class Association · IKHH · Liberal · Mebyon Kernow · National Front · Official Monster Raving Loony · Progressive Unionist · Respect · Scottish Socialist · Social Democratic · Socialist Labour · Socialist · Socialist Workers · Solidarity · Workers' Party of IrelandNotes: *Co-operative Party candidates stand jointly with the Labour Party as “Labour and Co-operative Party” candidates. †Although Sinn Féin have five elected members and have offices at Westminster, they are abstentionist and therefore do not take their seats. ‡Some Ulster Unionist Party candidates stand jointly with the Conservative Party as "Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force" candidates.Portal:Politics - List of political parties by representation - Politics of the United Kingdom United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum, 2011 Referendum question "At present, the UK uses the “first past the post” system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the “alternative vote” system be used instead?" (compare)Acts Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011Parties Advocating a "Yes" voteAlliance Party of Northern Ireland • Christian Party • Christian Peoples Alliance • English Democrats • Green Party of England and Wales • Liberal Democrats • Liberal Party • Mebyon Kernow • Pirate Party UK • Plaid Cymru • Scottish Green Party • Scottish National Party • SDLP • Sinn Féin • UKIP • Libertarian PartyNeutral/splitAdvocating a "No" voteBritish National Party • Communist Party of Britain • Conservative Party • Democratic Unionist Party • England First Party • Green Party in Northern Ireland • Respect Party • Socialist Party of England and Wales • Traditional Unionist Voice • Ulster Unionist PartyAdvocacy groups Advocating a "Yes" voteYES! To Fairer VotesAdvocating a "No" votePrint media Advocating a "Yes" voteAdvocating a "No" voteThe Sun • Daily Mail • The Times • Daily Express • Daily Telegraph • The Economist • Evening StandardResult Results of the United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum, 2011Politics Portal Categories:- Political parties established in 2005
- Christian political parties in the United Kingdom
- 2005 establishments in the United Kingdom
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