Voting? How do you do yours?

Having just read a brief note on the voting habits of people of faith I have to issue the results of the brief straw poll regarding the places I have lived and done church (as BOP* or Minister) I too have conducted on this matter and the findings are quite shocking in that:

Those who belong to the more blue collar denominations were more likely to vote Labour

Those who came from the minorities, especially in the more down at heel London Boroughs voted Labour

Those who lived in an affluent, leafy suburb, were likely to vote Conservative (even though their views tended towards Labour)

Those who lived in an extremely affluent, predominantly middle class area voted Conservative

Those who lived in an aspiring part of a London Borough voted Conservative (those in a friend's church in the poorer part oddly voted Labour)

It's interesting that some would continue with the CofE as the 'Conservative Party at prayer' line when this hasn't been the experience of those who I have conversed with this morning. Mind you, they almost were because they we firmly in bed with New Labour (which was barely Labour at all, was it?)

I think education, aspirations and demographics play a much greater part in the voting patterns than any faith or denominational indicative. That said, it has always been pushed that the Methodists were Liberal/Lib Dem/Unelectable and that is more towards Lord Soper and others at the helm (historically) as those I know also vote according to their background and not their denomination.

All in all - I have to say look at the people a church grouping or denomination attracts and that will give a good idea as to the voting patterns you might expect.

There - that was quick, cheap and of as much worth as longer term studies.

Mind you if someone was to ask the question, 'How has being a Christian changed or influenced you voting?' Now that might be interesting.

Are we preaching socialism (as me Dad used to say) and Jesus as the 'first true Communist' or do we advocate industry, affluence and a leaning to the right.

In all it's an interesting topic but it's not an easy win (although if it gets some the oxygen of publicity to sustain their existence perhaps, for them at least, it is). All things are interesting - just not always useful).

Have a great Sunday :-)