Local Spring Elections: May 2013

 

We encourage all people to exercise their vote, and recognising the responsibility of all Christians to have an active and prayerful concern for their local community we offer the following suggestions to help voters decide how to cast their ballot.

 

These questions are based on Christian values that are considered to be common to all people of good will and are shaped by material previously prepared and used by CLASP and BCCE. (1)

 

Christians believe that every person is created in the image and likeness of God.

Therefore:

 

• • Do you and does the candidate, recognize the innate dignity and equal value of all human persons?

 

• • Can you be confident that the person you vote for is able to represent, and make judgements on behalf of, all the local community, regardless of their race, colour or faith?

 

• • Will the person elected work for the common good of all and not just for one section of like-minded individuals?

 

• • Will his/her policies promote harmony, justice and social cohesion, so that no individual or group or faith is marginalized, demonised or treated unjustly?

 

• • Do his/her policies feed on the fear of one group over another?

 

• • How will his/her policies promote the rich diversity of cultures living within the community?

 

• • Do his/her policies serve to promote good race relations, respecting the culture, language and faith of all?

 

Preparing for Local Elections

 

Could Churches in your area arrange a meeting with the candidates for your local Council election?

 

A few years ago a meeting of regional representatives from the West Midlands Region Churches Forum met to identify questions that can be asked of prospective candidates in the run up to the May Local Elections. In the past churches have been highly successful in providing space for General Election Hustings. Why not consider organising a local Husting for the Council Elections in May?

 

The questions below were offered as a framework and still seem to be very relevant today.

 

Briefing

The range of questions appropriate for a local election will be different from those for a general election. As the responsibility of local authorities are more localised and community-orientated than that of Westminster Government, questions should focus on a) locally based issues, b) candidate’s knowledge of the community they wish to serve, and c) their willingness to listen and build trust with people if they are elected.

A husting is an ideal opportunity to observe the way in which candidates listen and dialogue with their audience and for them to show they are interested in building mutual accountability and trust. The following questions are offered as starters for a debate with candidates and are aimed at revealing their ability to listen and engage with an audience.

 

Partnership between Council and local community

? What is your vision and understanding of a local community?

? How will you go about consulting with the people of this community and listen to their voices?

? What will you do to build trust and develop partnership between the Council and the people of this community?

? In what ways will you help this community to develop its corporate voice?

? In what ways will you help the Council to listen to the voice of our community?

? How will you balance views of the majority when they conflict with legitimate concerns of minority groups?

 

Voluntary and Community Life

? What do you know about the voluntary and community sector in this community?

? What value do you place on the contribution of voluntary and community groups?

? What support for the voluntary and community sector will you fight for, if you are elected?

Local response to national policy

Cuts

? What areas will you prioritise for cuts and further efficiencies in the next 2 year’s local authority budgets of 2012 and 2013? (Although reductions for 2011/12 are set, further reductions will be required in 2012 and 2013).

? Do you think that further efficiencies can be gained through improved working methods, and if so in what ways?

? What do you think about sharing services with neighbouring councils as a way of reducing costs and improving services?

? How will you be sensitive to the human cost of reorganisation that involve staff redundancies, relocation and establishing new offices?

 

Big Society and community organising

? How will you assist and enable our local community to organise itself?

? What do you understand by the term, Big Society?

? How will you support the initiative for community organising?

 

Good communication across levels of Government

? How will you help to inform national government and local MPs of our issues?

? How will you go about learning of best practice in neighbouring councils?

? How will you liaise between the different strands and departments of Council and manage your relationship with the employed staff of the Council.

? To what extent do you feel bound by the national policies of your party?

Questions specific to the needs of your locality

These are your local questions relevant to the needs of your local community

 

General Questions

? What world-view informs your politics?

? What issue would lead you to defy your party on a vote in the Council chamber?

? What social action projects will you assist or put into place?

? What do you understand to be the limits of your powers if you are elected?

 

Prayers in advance of local elections

At a time of elections, we pray for all local authorities as they prepare for another contest and face the likelihood of having to adjust to new balances of power thereafter.

We pray that all of our future councillors may govern wisely, selflessly and with justice for the good of all.

We pray for the people of those areas where support for extremist parties has been particularly strong, asking that there may not be division or prejudice there, but that all nationalities and ethnic groups may learn how to live together in peace.

We pray especially for those who are looking to regenerate our communities, asking that they may be sensitive to the needs of both resident and visitor, retailer and shopper, rich and poor.

We pray for the current and future leaders and executives of our communities and pray that they may be granted a selfless wisdom in all they do and the strength to carry out strategies that will be for the good of all.

At a time of continuing global uncertainty we pray for those who have influence over the great markets and financial exchanges.

We pray for those who are seeking to create a more just global economy while balancing the needs of all.

We pray for those who are responsible for housing, energy programmes, transport policies, food distribution, benefit and the administration of aid to all those who are in need.

We pray for those who seek to broker peace between hostile factions, be they local or national.

We pray for those who are responsible for the planning and shaping of our own towns and cities, not least our own Council.

And as we approach a time of holiday, we pray for those who will be travelling, those who will be relaxing, those who must continue to work to provide and maintain the services on which we all depend.

And so grant, Gracious Father, that our eyes may not be so fixed on the things of earth that we may not be able to look up to heaven, find our own guidance and correction there, and continue to praise and worship you, now and forever.

 

Amen.