Rector's Letter

It is election time; love it or hate it, the election is upon us. If you are reading this on 5th July we will all know who won and by

how much. Endless words will have been spoken, in-depth analysis applied. I think anyone who stands as a candidate is brave

(or foolish) but if their enthusiasm can get things through the parliamentary machinery then I wish them well.

But how do we decide who to vote for? Perhaps tradition passes down through the generations – ‘We have always voted....’;

the one who will do things that will make my life better; the one whose politics I most agree with? What if there was a policy

that promised to make us poorer so that the very poorest might get a better life? What if the promise to reform the NHS said

that there would be cuts to services so that the basics would be covered well for all? What if taxes were going to rise but you

trusted they would be well spent?

I’m not sure any of this will be in the manifesto of any candidate, but the over arching decision is who am I voting for, the

one who will better my life or the lives of those who live on the edge of society. How that is achieved the different parties will

have different ideas, but would you dare to offer a cut in your living standards (perhaps an additional cut) if you knew (as far as

we can) that things would be better for someone else?

I am writing this a few days after the D. Day 80 commemorations which reminds us all that democracy does not come cheap and

we have a duty to honour their memory in how we act now.

We have six candidates to choose from (Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Reform, Green, Independent, Labour) so plenty of

choice. Pray about it, engage with it, examine your own motives and make your mark.

See you on the other side.

Nick Law

Rector