The Conservatives should stand up for Christians, people of faith and social conservatives in politics

Feb 28, 2023 by Jill

by David Burrowes, Conservative Home:

Having scars on my back for contending for social conservatism from when I was an MP, I have much sympathy for Kate Forbes, looking as she is hounded by the illiberal and intolerant commentariat for her religious-based views. Forbes drew comfort from there being a Hindu PM, but William Hague has questioned whether a candidate with her views on same-sex marriage could be the leader of the Conservative Party. Really?

Before I try and answer Hague’s reasonable question, let’s deal with the intolerance. Ayesha Hazarika in The Evening Standard wrote, under the headline ‘Dinosaur Kate Forbes is learning that values do matter in politics’, that ‘ we do live in a liberal country. You are allowed to have those views but if you have more than one brain cell, you should realise that these aren’t mainstream, and you shouldn’t be running for leader.’

And the unreasonable ones led by Alex Massie in The Spectator, who suggested Forbes should conceal her true beliefs and effectively lie in order to win electoral success. How sad it is that aspirants for high public office are told they simply can’t hold certain beliefs if they want to make a difference in the public square.

It is not so easy to dismiss Forbes’ views as extreme and prehistoric. Her values about marriage do indeed matter and are shared by millions of British people up and down this country, in countless temples, mosques, churches, and synagogues – and amongst without a faith at all.

Recent polling by the think-tank Onward challenged received wisdom over the location of the centre ground of British politics. In reality, the typical voter and significantly the voters that will determine the next election are more likely to hold socially conservative values like Kate Forbes, and ones which we predominantly care about as Conservatives. Our heritage as a party welcomes people of faith, and values the family, the strong communities which define us, and the places we love and call home.

I cut my political teeth at University alongside fellow students Robert Halfon (a Jew), Sajid Javid (a Muslim), and Tim Montgomerie (a Christian – who founded the Conservative Christian Fellowship with me). We were all united in our support for the nation, the family, and community.

These play to our strengths as Conservatives in seeking out a broad coalition of voters who share our overarching values of love for our neighbour, hard work, aspirations for ourselves and our families, and of leaving our country in a better place than when we found it.

And it’s not just a matter of history and politics. On the ground, in our communities, it is people of faith, often with socially conservative beliefs, that manifest their values by running youth clubs, drug rehabs, and food banks. They have also been at the forefront of opening their homes to Ukrainian refugees. How then could we not allow them the space to speak openly in the public square – and for some of them to our leaders?

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