Politics

Children in Detention

Did you know that the UK is the only country in Europe which locks up the children of families seeking sanctuary? Find out more about children in detention.

Equality

The Government's Equality Bill is currently being debated in Parliament. Our Churches support measures to end discrimination and promote equality. However, some aspects of the Bill to do with employment, have been highlighted by some as a cause for concern. Find out more by reading our Frequently Asked Questions about the Equality Bill – October 2009.

Expenses

The Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Church worked together to produce a swift response to the Committee on Standards in Public Life – Inquiry into the Review of MPs’ Expenses. This was the only submission from a faith group perspective

Submission to the Committee on Standards in Public Life (PDF)

Elections

European Parliament Elections 2009

Download the briefing paper sent out before the 2009 European Parliament and local elections (PDF)

Extremism

Churches have stated that racism, in all its forms, is a sin and a denial of God's love for each of God's children.  Churches have spoken out against extremist parties with policies that promote racist and religious intolerance. 
More resources on tackling political extremism

Local churches have an important role to play in community life. If you are a local church leader, lay or ordained, download a toolkit on countering political extremism (PDF)

We have produced guidelines for churches on dealing with extremist political parties:

Methodist Church Guidelines (PDF)

Baptist Union of Great Britain Guidelines (PDF)

Parliamentary Liaison

The churches engage with politics in a range of ways - through local connections, responding to government consultations and working with individual MPs and Peers.  The Methodist Parliamentary Fellowship is a group of Methodist MPs and Peers who meet monthly to discuss topics from a non-party perspective. 

See other issues to find out more about writing to your own MP about our current campaigns.

Political Party Conferences

Every year leaders of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, Methodist Church and United Reformed Church, together with the Salvation Army and Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), attend the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative Party Conferences. 

The aim is to meet with Christians and politicians from the three parties, to convey the current concerns of the Churches, and to demonstrate support for people who serve the public through political life.

If you are a member of a political party attending your party conference and would like to meet the Church leaders, contact us .