{"id":10497,"date":"2017-04-25T13:27:42","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T12:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/?p=10497"},"modified":"2017-04-26T10:44:52","modified_gmt":"2017-04-26T09:44:52","slug":"mrs-mays-general-election-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/index.php\/mrs-mays-general-election-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Mrs May’s General Election Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Theresa<\/a>
Theresa May has stated Britain will leave the EU’s Single Market. But she could easily lose the General Election.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the political parties write their general election manifestos, one of them faces a particular challenge.<\/p>\n

The Conservatives might think they have an unassailable lead, but they could easily snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. \u00a0And that would put Brexit in peril.<\/p>\n

NHI for the Self-Employed<\/h2>\n

Firstly., they would dearly like\u00a0their manifesto to give them fiscal carte blanche. \u00a0Their previous manifesto promised no rise in VAT, income tax or national health insurance (NHI) contributions. \u00a0That may have been foolish, but it’s why Chancellor Philip Hammond came unstuck in March.<\/p>\n

His March 2017 budget proposed to increase NHI for the self-employed. \u00a0The Guardian found at least 18 Tory MPs<\/a><\/strong> prepared to vote that down. \u00a0Hammond and Mrs May retreated.<\/p>\n

But this time, if they take out the pledge, every Tory\u00a0candidate will be signed up to the change. \u00a0It follows they will be unable to object. \u00a0But they may not have the opportunity. \u00a0According to National Statistics<\/a><\/strong>, there are now over four and a half million self-employed in the UK. \u00a0The trend shows not sign of slowing down. \u00a0ONS say: ‘The level of self-employment in the UK increased from 3.8 million in 2008 to 4.6 million in 2015.’<\/p>\n

The pensioners’ ‘triple-lock’<\/h2>\n
\"The<\/a>
The triple-lock matters to pensioners – and there are almost twelve million of them.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Secondly, the Conservatives would love to abolish the so-called ‘triple-lock’ with this general election. \u00a0The coalition government began this scheme in 2010. \u00a0It\u00a0increases the state pension each year by inflation, the increase in average earnings or 2.5%, whichever is the highest. \u00a0Maintaining the triple lock until at least 2020 was another\u00a0David\u00a0Cameron 2015 manifesto commitment.<\/p>\n

Labour have already pledged to maintain the triple-lock. \u00a0If the Tories take it away, they could alienate every one of the UK’s 11.8 million pensioners in one go. \u00a0Nearly one million over-75s live in poverty, according to the BBC<\/a><\/strong>. At\u00a0April 2014, the basic state pension was around \u00a3440 a year more\u00a0than it would have been if it had been increased only in line with the increase in average earnings. \u00a0So it matters to people. \u00a0Almost 2 million pensioners may live in a household with a millionaire<\/a><\/strong>, but if self-interest or altruism kick in, Mrs May could be in trouble.<\/p>\n

So that is twelve million pensioners and four-and-a-half million self-employed. \u00a0Fifteen million is a huge voting block to alienate. \u00a0There are just 44.7 million electors in the UK, according to ONS<\/a><\/strong>. \u00a0You do the maths. \u00a0The Tories stand to lose the votes of over a third of the electorate. \u00a0And these are people who actually vote. \u00a0Lose them and\u00a0they lose the general election.<\/p>\n

\"LibDem<\/a>
LibDem leader Tim Farron is chief of the ‘Remoaners’<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Brexit dimension<\/h2>\n

The LibDems want to remain in the EU, or at least in the Single Market and Customs Union, which amounts to the same thing. \u00a0Their leader, Tim Farron, is also promising a second referendum.<\/p>\n

Labour’s\u00a0shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said today<\/a><\/strong> that his party\u00a0would scrap Theresa May’s Brexit plans. Labour would unilaterally guarantee the rights of EU residents to stay before talks even start. \u00a0Furthermore, he said\u00a0the EU single market should be kept ‘on the table’.<\/p>\n

Frankly, a general election yielding a Conservative majority is the only way of guaranteeing a full, proper, clean exit from the revived Roman Empire. \u00a0Without putting trust in princes, Mrs May looks like she could achieve\u00a0that. \u00a0More EU jobs are dependent on the UK market than vice versa, but even World Trade Organisation tariffs are not actually that high across most sectors. \u00a0Trade deals are good for trade, but companies manage to trade with foreign partners without them. \u00a0There is no EU trade agreement with China<\/a><\/strong>, for example.<\/p>\n

Pray for the General Election<\/h2>\n
\"Ben<\/a>
Ben Gummer MP is writing the Conservative’s General election manifesto. If ever a man needed wisdom…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We need to pray for Ben Gummer MP, the Ipswich MP in charge of writing the Conservative manifesto<\/a><\/strong>. \u00a0Obviously he will be talking to party bigwigs, but they all need to realise what is at stake.<\/p>\n

They may not realise that there is a massive spiritual battle going on over Brexit right now. \u00a0Behind every material reality is a spiritual reality and we are aware of that.<\/p>\n

Pray the Tories do not alienate voters by abandoning the NHI pledge and the triple-lock. \u00a0The Chancellor will have to wait. \u00a0The most vital matter today is Brexit. \u00a0If the Conservatives mess up the election and put Brexit in jeopardy there will be massive public anger.<\/p>\n

Easter Message<\/h2>\n

We also need to pray that Theresa May takes this opportunity to make good her Easter message<\/a><\/strong>. \u00a0She clearly said people in public service should be able to share their faith without risk of losing their job. \u00a0But they are losing their jobs. \u00a0So dispel accusations of hypocrisy by making that a manifesto pledge.<\/p>\n

She also said the UK should be standing up for Christians overseas. \u00a0So stand up for the Christians of Syria, and support the Syrian Government which is their only protector. \u00a0Stand up also for persecuted Christians in Pakistan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, for example.<\/p>\n

We should obviously like to see measures promised opposing the abortion industry and euthanasia. \u00a0Reform of the family courts and the scandal of overbearing child protection is overdue. \u00a0Crucially for the nation’s children, the Tory manifesto should stand against the fashionable transgender scam, especially in schools. \u00a0That would cause outcry, but not fifteen million voters’ worth of outcry.<\/p>\n

Finally, on foreign affairs, let us pray for a\u00a0manifesto commitment of\u00a0peace. \u00a0Pray to have a Secretary of State for Defence, rather than – as we currently have – one for Provocation<\/a><\/strong>. \u00a0Pray for a reset with Russia. \u00a0Mrs May could pledge in this general election never again\u00a0to destablise\u00a0other\u00a0nations. \u00a0She could promise\u00a0the UK will approach diplomacy with maturity. \u00a0At the moment, Boris\u00a0Johnson and Sir Michael Fallon seem like a couple of adolescent stags trying to prove their virility. \u00a0The anti-Russia rhetoric is ludicrous and embarrassing<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Prayer and Email:<\/h2>\n

You can email your MP from the Parliament link right here<\/a><\/strong> to\u00a0witness to him or her about content of the manifesto.<\/p>\n

If your MP is not Conservative, you can even email Mr Ben Gummer MP<\/a><\/strong> with suggestions, or just to let him know you are praying.<\/p>\n

Be sure every lobby group will be doing the same. \u00a0Not the praying bit, obviously.<\/p>\n

And do also pray for the other parties. \u00a0On some matters, their\u00a0general election manifestos could at the very least change the parameters of debate. \u00a0Labour and UKIP could be better disposed towards peace, for example. \u00a0There are plainly other issues attracting attention in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and Wales to some extent. \u00a0But if you live outside England, or even overseas, please spare some prayer time for the overall UK picture.<\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 3:24 O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

1Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. <\/strong><\/p>\n

1Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

1Tim 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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As the political parties write their general election manifestos, one of them faces a particular challenge. The Conservatives might think they have an unassailable lead, but they could easily snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. \u00a0And that would put Brexit in peril. NHI for the Self-Employed Firstly., they would dearly like\u00a0their manifesto to give […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10498,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,1035,14,144,380,121,11,83],"tags":[3076,341,1395,15,646,1465,2180,7,16,3066,3074,1957,3072,3067,2019,3069,3070,778,1082,1817,391,2020,3068,1951,43,390,555,3073,1466,3071,3075],"class_list":["post-10497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christian-freedom","category-education-children","category-european-union","category-freedom-of-speech","category-freedom-to-preach","category-globalism-depopulation-id","category-homosexuality-trans","category-justice-policing-crime","tag-ben-gummer","tag-boris-johnson","tag-brexit","tag-christian-voice","tag-christians","tag-conservative-party","tag-customs-union","tag-david-cameron","tag-eu","tag-general-election","tag-keir-starmer","tag-labour","tag-libdem","tag-manifesto","tag-michael-fallon","tag-national-health-insurance","tag-nhi","tag-philip-hammond","tag-prayer","tag-roman-empire","tag-russia","tag-secretary-of-state-for-defence","tag-self-employed","tag-single-market","tag-stephen-green","tag-syria","tag-theresa-may","tag-tim-farron","tag-tories","tag-triple-lock","tag-world-trade-organisation"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t