Christian Peoples Alliance


Christian Peoples Alliance
Leader Alan Craig
Founded 1999
Headquarters Federal Office St. Luke's Community Centre,

85 Tarling Road,

London, E16 1HN,
Ideology Christian democracy
European affiliation European Christian Political Movement
European Parliament Group none
Official colours violet
Website
CPA Website

The Christian Peoples Alliance is a political party operating in the United Kingdom, linked to other Christian parties around the globe. It has three elected councillors in the London Borough of Newham[1] and its best election result was in 2000, when nearly 100,000 people in London gave the party a vote. Although its vote of 3.4% warranted the party a seat in the London Assembly under the D'Hondt method, the party failed to cross the 5% threshold and did not win representation.

Contents

Party history

The Christian Peoples Alliance describes itself as a party in the Christian Democratic tradition that stands for the social teaching of the churches. It emerged in 1999 from the Movement for Christian Democracy (MCD), that was founded in 1991 at a rally of Christians in Westminster. The MCD was founded by 3 Christian MPs - David Alton (Liberal), Derek Enright (Labour) and Ken Hargreaves (Conservative) and during its existence the Christian press featured reports about it becoming a fully-fledged political party.[2] It never did so, but its Chairman Dr Alan Storkey and Vice-Chairman, David Campanale, led an internal consultation of MCD members that led to the formation of the Christian Peoples Alliance by leading MCD activists.

Ideology and issues

The founding MCD principles, adopted in 1991 as the Westminster Declaration were then adopted by Christian Peoples Alliance council in September 2001 as the Mayflower Declaration[3] (after the Mayflower Family Centre in London's Canning Town). The use of the term "Mayflower Declaration" as a statement of the CPA's Principles must be regarded a controversial because the Mayflower Family Centre (of which, at the time of the declaration Alan Craig was Director) was a Community Centre registered with the Charity Commissioners. As such it was required to conform to Charity Commission rules, which preclude party political bias or association.

In November 2002, the annual conference of the party passed a resolution opposing prospects of war in Iraq as "illegal, unwise and immoral".[4]

All the policies of the CPA are linked to these policies and are summarised as:

  • Recognition of Christ's sovereignty over the nations and in politics.
  • Respect of God's law as the basis for constitutional government and a stable society.
  • Reconciliation among nations, races, religions, classes, gender and communities.
  • Respect for human life given by God.
  • Social Justice to address wrongs and provide restitution to the wronged.
  • Careful economic stewardship of God's creation.
  • Commitment to the fairness of markets and patterns of exchange.
  • Peacemaking, by addressing the causes of wars.
  • Open, transparent government, which subjects itself to debate and critique.
  • Small conservative government and low taxation

Campaigning issues

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The party has campaigned on a wide range of issues. In 2000 and 2004 in London it put inner-city regeneration and fighting discrimination as its top policy priorities.[5] Its policies to cut energy-use and road congestion through a motorway coach-network won acceptance at government level.[6] Its policies in support of marriage and church schools have become popular currency among secular parties.[7] The CPA has also taken a firm stand against the reclassification of cannabis,[8] in favour of linking Christianity to the European Union constitution, building more church schools and supporting traditional Christian morality. CPA Newham's campaigning against the building of Abbey Mills 'mega mosque' in West Ham won support from local Muslims and prominent Muslim leaders.[9] Alan Craig received what he alleges were death threats as a result of his stance over the mosque[10]. However to date no individual has been convicted of making these alleged threats[11]. He also has led campaigns backing the UNISON steward at Newham Council who faced disciplinary action; against plans to build London's large casino in Newham[12], against the Excel Arms Fair[13]; against what he claims are Labour's plans to move local families out of Canning Town in support of yuppie housing. In fact this is a regeneration scheme and any families who move have been guaranteed a right to return by Labour Newham Council. Ironically though, last year, and before the recent reported fall in property prices,Craig himself sold a property close to the regeneration area and moved to Forest Gate.

He has also campaigned against proposals to demolish parts of Queen Street Market in favour of "non-invasive refurbishment"[14] environment.[15].

In 2008, the CPA forged an electoral pact with the Christian Party (which was founded by Rev George Hargreaves after leaving the CPA[citation needed]), in order to contest the GLA elections Hargreaves advocates liberal rehabilitation and non-custodial measures for gun criminals.[citation needed]

Since its inception, the CPA has fought local authority elections at parish, borough, city and county level in London, Glasgow, Sheffield, Leeds, Rotherham, Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Northampton, Gloucester and Suffolk.

Election history

In 2000, the CPA was the only political party to adopt an ethnic minority party candidate for London Mayor, Ram Gidoomal CBE. His campaign was notable for winning support from both prominent bishops and leaders across the faiths[citation needed]. Former Editor of The Times Sir Simon Jenkins wrote in the Evening Standard that he gave Ram Gidoomal a vote[16]. Gidoomal beat every minor party candidate in the mayoral race, including the Green Party candidate.[17], but failed to gain the required minimum 5% on the London-wide list vote for election to the London Assembly. However, the 55,000 votes won by CPA for the London list placed the party ahead of the United Kingdom Independence Party and the British National Party, and ahead of all the far left groupings combined.

A social entrepreneur and described as "one of the best-connected Asian businessmen in the UK"[18] Ram Gidoomal fought the election on a platform of gaining more jobs for London. This led to an article in The Times which reported results from fantasymayor.com, a website run by New Statesman magazine: "IF LONDONERS elect a mayor purely on how his or her policies match the electors' views, Ken Livingstone would come in last by miles. Instead, the surprise winner would be Ram Gidoomal, the Christian People's Alliance rank outsider, according to a new website."[19]

In 2002, the CPA ran 69 candidates in a third of London's boroughs, winning an average 5% of the vote. CPA Executive member and Director of the Mayflower Centre, Alan Craig, became the first Christian Democrat elected in British political history after gaining a seat in Canning Town South from Labour. He became sole opposition councillor to 59 Labour councillors in the London Borough of Newham.

The party fought the London elections again in 2004[20] and also London and the South East England constituency for the European elections. Gidoomal received a public endorsement from Sir Ferdinand Mount, a prominent Conservative Party politician and columnist at The Times newspaper[21]. The party chose not to contest Scotland, where it had a fledgling group, because the Pro Life Party were running EU candidates. Although holding its London Assembly List deposit, the CPA won a smaller percentage of the vote than in 2000. Ram Gidoomal stepped down as party leader, to be succeeded by Cllr Alan Craig.

In 2005, the CPA entered candidates in 9 United Kingdom general election, 2005 constituencies, winning 3,500 votes. A 'blind candidating' contest run by BBC's Newsnight programme placed the party manifesto commitments second, above all the major UK parties[22]

In London-wide elections in May 2006, the CPA won all 3 seats in Canning Town South ward, with Alan Craig joined by Simeon Ademolake and Denise Stafford.

In May 2007, the CPA won two parish council seats in Rotherham in Yorkshire[citation needed]. It also contested elections to the Scottish Parliament on a platform of abolishing Trident[23], free school meals and higher pensions[24]. CPA Scotland won endorsements from two prominent Roman Catholic bishops[25] for its stance backing marriage, the unborn child, support for Church schools and opposition to gay adoptions. CPA Cymru also contested elections to the National Assembly of Wales. The party is led in Wales by Cllr Canon Steve Morgan, from Merthyr Tydfil Council. Alan Craig regained the federal party leadership in Autumn 2007, after a brief spell during which Michael Elmer held the reins.

In 2008, the CPA forged an electoral pact with the Christian Party (UK), led by Rev George Hargreaves, and which had previously split from the CPA, to contest the GLA elections. Alan Craig ran as the CPA and Christian Party candidate for London Mayor. He also topped the London List for the two parties, using the name The Christian Choice. Although he failed to keep his deposit in the Mayoral race, the Christian Choice held its vote in the Assembly List contest, winning 70,284 votes compared to 55,000 in 2004. The 2.86% of the London-wide poll placed the party ahead of United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), and Respect.

In 2009 two Respect councillors in Newham resigned membership of their party, leaving the CPA as the second-largest party in the borough council[26].

The Christian Party and the Christian Peoples Alliance again contested the 2009 European Parliament elections on a joint list[27]. They received 249,493 votes, or 1.6% of the vote nationally, placing tenth out of thirty-four parties running. This represented a +1.6 increase on their 2004 result, but fell well short of the number required to win a seat[28].

References

  1. ^ "London Borough of Newham: All Councillors". http://www.directory.londoncouncils.gov.uk/directory/newham/councillors/. Retrieved on 2009-05-26. 
  2. ^ Freston, Paul Protestant Political Parties: A Global Survey p52 Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 0-7546-4062-0
  3. ^ *[1]
  4. ^ Church Times - Three years after war, 'Iraq is worse'
  5. ^ http://christian-1.cust.host-it.co.uk/fed/resources/Passion_forLoSdon_manifesto.pdf
  6. ^ http://christian-1.cust.host-it.co.uk/fed/resources/TRANSPOR_TDO.pdf, http://www.bepj.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/2007/03/motorway-based-coach-system.pdf
  7. ^ Minister hints at tax reforms for marriage - Telegraph
  8. ^ Key Policies, Christian Peoples Alliance, see http://christian-1.cust.host-it.co.uk/sco/index. php?page=policies as at 17 April 2007
  9. ^ http://christian-1.cust.host-it.co.uk/london/?page=news&id=262
  10. ^ Death threats on YouTube for mosque opponent | News
  11. ^ The Social Affairs Unit - Web Review: Death Threats against a Newham Councillor who opposes the proposed Mega-Mosque in East London: Anthony McRoy - author of From Rushdie...
  12. ^ BBC - London - London Local - "Say no to casino!"
  13. ^ CAAT Press Releases
  14. ^ Queen's Market - St Modwen not wanted!
  15. ^ Letters: Friends of Queens market set out their stall | From the Guardian | The Guardian
  16. ^ Simon Jenkins Evening Standard 27/04/2000
  17. ^ Mayoral Election Results - 2000 | MayorWatch
  18. ^ www.realbusiness.co.uk/archive/4773846/cover-story-its-not-what-you-know.thtml - 83k -
  19. ^ The Times 13/04/2000
  20. ^ Interview: Ram Gidoomal, London's Christian mayoral candidate | Society | The Guardian
  21. ^ "Comment: Ferdinand Mount: It’s the poor what gets the puritanism". The Times. 2004-06-13. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article444758.ece. Retrieved on 2009-05-27. 
  22. ^ Christian Party Manifesto comes 2nd in Pre-General Election Newsnight Contest
  23. ^ Christian Peoples Alliance: news
  24. ^ Project1:Layout 1
  25. ^ Christian Peoples Alliance: news
  26. ^ "Councillors quit party". Newham Recorder. 2009-05-13. http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/content/newham/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsNEWHAM&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsnewham&itemid=WeED13%20May%202009%2009%3A00%3A56%3A893. Retrieved on 2009-05-27. 
  27. ^ "Christian Peoples Alliance and Christian Party Announce Candidates for EU Elections". CPA. 2009-05-08. http://www.cpaparty.org.uk/?page=news&id=301. Retrieved on 2009-05-27. 
  28. ^ "European Election 2009: UK Results". BBC News. 2009-06-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/euro/09/html/ukregion_999999.stm. Retrieved on 2009-06-08. 

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