Seismic elections within the UK – the great, the bad and the ugly

The times they’re a changing – or at the very least it seems that way within the UK. Most commentators agree that something seismic has shifted in UK politics. For some it’s like the start of a recent Nirvana – we now have ‘hope not hate’; our country is on its way back; independence is coming.

Others think that these elections don’t bode well for Britain and that we’re sliding into some form of dystopian apocalyptic future. Many just can’t be bothered. They don’t even care about being apathetic. The more things change, the more they stay the identical.     

I might suggest that, leaving out the hyperbole, these are essentially the most significant elections since Maggie Thatcher was elected – or perhaps the Brexit referendum. Reform were the large winners, followed by the Greens, Plaid Cymru after which the Scottish Nationalists and the Lib Dems. What can Christians make of all of it?   

There is far that might be said but let me make just a number of observations that I hope will help – or perhaps just annoy you. 

The Good

There were good things on this election. 

1. The undeniable fact that we had one in any respect 

There is increasing concern that as we move away from Christian values, we’ll turn out to be less democratic. We should use the vote while we have now it. 

2. Several myths were put to bed 

The myth that an incumbent party cannot win. The myth of Scouse and Scottish exceptionalism – the notion that in some way these areas of the UK are different.   Reform did well in each of them. The same problems that apply in England apply across the remainder of the UK.   

3. The two-party system is over

England now has a five-party system (Tories, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Reform and the Greens). Scotland and Wales now have a 6-party system – just add the Nationalists to that list. Whether the present electoral systems can survive that is questionable. Maybe we would find yourself with a greater one? 

4. Britain is not going to be broken up

This could appear counter intuitive. After all, there’ll now be nationalist leaders of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Is this not a part of the ‘inevitable march to independence’? X tells us that is inevitable … And yet these elections saw the top of any possibility of the UK breaking up in the following five years. Why? The fact is that 60% of Scottish voters voted for Unionist parties. John Swinney had claimed that if the SNP got a majority, they might have a mandate for Indy Ref 2. They didn’t.  

Likewise in Wales there was no majority for independence. Plaid Cymru did so well because they are usually not Labour they usually are usually not Reform. What all of this implies is that there can be a number of noise from the Nationalists, no motion, and no change. The UK government won’t ever agree on these figures – and referendums cannot legally be held without the agreement of the UK government. 

The Bad 

1. The Balkanisation of Britain and the Rise of Sectarian politics 

The Labour minister, Chris Byrant, speaking on the BBC, warned that there was a dangerous rise of sectarianism in UK politics. Of course, certainly one of the explanations for that is the shortcoming of presidency ministers like Chris to call the elephant within the room.  He spoke about sectarian politics between Catholics and Protestants previously in Glasgow and Northern Ireland, but he couldn’t just mention the unspeakable word – Islam. 

When the Green leader in Bristol was asked about why Gaza was a problem in Bristol local council elections, he stated that Bristol ‘is a global city’. Yet you’ll struggle to seek out people voting in Bristol on Sudan, Nigerian or Uyghur issues. No candidates will drape themselves within the Ukrainian flag in the identical way that many wore the Palestinian. 

The issue here is the sectarian certainly one of Islam and Israel – the Jews. It was notable that the Muslim Labour vote in some areas fell by 30%. The rebranding of the Greens because the Islamic party – plus the variety of ‘independent’ candidates standing as Muslim activists in Muslim areas – goes some method to explaining this.  

2. The rebranding of political and spiritual extremism as hope   

It is ironic that the party with essentially the most extreme and hateful politics is the one that almost all uses the slogan ‘hope not hate’. In Wales, Plaid Cymru successfully argued that individuals should vote for them to stop the ‘extremist’ Reform. They didn’t argue about stopping the much more extremist Greens. Largely because in Wales, as in Scotland, the Nationalists have been taken over by the identical ‘progressive’ ideology championed by the Greens.    

3. Labour isn’t any longer the party of the working class 

Former Welsh Labour leader, Lord Carwin Jones, admitted as much in a revealing interview. Labour has largely ceased to be the party of the working class, because it was taken over by Tony Blair’s Islington set. I find this particularly depressing. The party of the employees has turn out to be the party of the establishment. 

4. The apathy

In Scotland they spoke of individuals being ‘scunnered’. So many persons are just fed up of the politicians and their empty guarantees that they only didn’t trouble to vote. 

The Ugly

1.The demonisation of Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage 

Whilst I don’t agree with the Prime Minister on many issues and struggle to see him as anything aside from a weak leader, I actually don’t like the private animus against him. It jogs my memory of the times of Thatcher. Disagree along with her policies but don’t portray her because the devil. Likewise with Nigel Farage. 

2. The substitute of fine, capable and experienced politicians

With those that, shall we embrace are less talented or experienced!  In Scotland MSPs like Kate Forbes, Fergus Ewing, Monica Lennon, Jackson Carlaw, Jeremy Balfour have been replaced with individuals who have little experience, less knowledge and no ability to control. Think for instance of the Green MSP in Glasgow, a biological male who identifies as a lady and who has previously celebrated the Queen’s death in essentially the most disgusting terms. Or one other Green trans MSP in Edinburgh who shouldn’t be even a Scottish citizen – he’s here on a student visa which doesn’t let him work, but still he has been elected to control Scotland! There are many other instances throughout the UK of the collective insanity which has gripped some quarters of our nation. 

Christian Responses

What are the Christian responses?  Let me summarise them here. 

1. Nothing to see here

Things are as they at all times have been. It’s at all times the identical after every election and yet we muddle through. This is a level of complacency and blindness that I find hard to understand. 

2. Revival is coming – Christian nationalism or some form thereof is on the rise

But is it? And do we would like the Gospel to be became a nationalism? Real Christianity shouldn’t be politically aligned and calls each Left and Right (and all the pieces in between) to repentance.   

3. The End is nigh – or at the very least I wish it was

I find so many Christians at the moment are praying more fervently – Come Lord Jesus. End all of it. We have had enough. I understand this – and I pray it. But until He does come, we have now work to do. And we must not despair.  

4. Man the Lifeboats 

This is my very own personal position. I doubt that the UK may be saved. It is simply too broken.  Too confused. The demons are in too deep. But that doesn’t mean that the Church should hand over. We have been here before. The Roman Empire was a horrendous, cruel, pagan society and we flourished inside it – before eventually taking it over!    

Right now what the UK needs shouldn’t be more politicians or more political parties, but more Christians and more faithful churches, who’re prepared to be counter cultural and prophetic. Britain’s hope shouldn’t be in politics, but in Christ.  

Am I concerned? Absolutely. There is far to be concerned about. Am I in despair?  Absolutely not. Because the gates of Hell is not going to prevail against Christ and His church. May the Lord renew, revitalise and return the UK to its Christian roots.  

David Robertson,

A Scot in Exile. 

David Robertson writes on https://substack.com/@theweeflea