Dr John Hayward comments

Dr John Hayward

I was based for some years in Central Asia. A common complaint about elections there is captured in an anecdote about a famous local figure who challenged the results of an election in which he was the defeated candidate: 'I know it was crooked,' said Mulla Nasruddin. 'A friend of mine voted for me fifteen times in one of the districts but I only got four votes there!'

Other countries where I have spent time ahead of their elections include the USA, most memorably both before and after Barack Obama was returned as President in 2008, and Iran, just before the 2005 elections that unexpectedly saw Mahmoud Ahmadinejad become president. Conversations I had with people in both these countries about their electoral hopes and fears were eye-opening. Needless to say, my experience of global democracy, as well as my time as director of the Jubilee Centre, has helped to shape my perspective on the whole democratic process and what we might realistically expect of it.

Later this year we will all be asked whether we think the 'alternative vote' system be used instead of the 'first past the post' system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Whatever you think about this specific question, I would urge that our discussions about electoral reform should really be focused around participation, not representation. Democracy is not just about putting a cross (or a series of numbers) in a box once every few years. Rather, it is about ordinary people being able to influence and get involved with the issues that affect them on a daily basis.

Without rehearsing all the arguments, AV treats votes no more fairly than FPTP and, even if adopted, governments would still get majorities or even landslides with less than 50% of the vote, and we would still have tactical voting and so-called 'safe' seats - an expression that presumes foreknowledge of results, contrary to clear biblical warnings against such presumption (e.g. James 4:13-17).

Reform of the process by which individuals and the parties they represent are elected cannot bring about the change that is needed. We could spend years discussing how to structure government differently and how to determine who should represent us in government, but it will still come down to people with different ideas and values needing to cooperate and negotiate in the interests of the common good.

The key ingredient that we need if we are to see genuine electoral reform is not alternative representation, but wider participation. An alternative system of representation could, for instance, see the House of Lords filled with elected politicians each with an eye on re-election and, for all intents and purposes, no different from the House of Commons. This would probably be a pale shadow of the Upper House that we currently have, largely filled with people who bring a depth of experience from many fields, few of whom might win a popular vote in today's celebrity culture, but who nevertheless perform a far greater service for the public than any talent that might be presented to the country by the likes of the X Factor.

If a voter complains that they have not been contacted by the political parties because they live in a 'safe' seat, the solution is for them to become locally active in the party of their choice - both during and between elections! The Bible warns us against becoming too dependent upon any one person or public body and invites everyone to play their part in the communities in which they live and work.

As the Jubilee Centre concluded in our general election guide to the issues, Votewise Now, the biblical mandate is for all of us to engage as 'salt' and 'light' at all times and in all places. 'We are called into ... a life of service for our fellow human beings, and creation. We vote, not simply for what is best for us, but for what is best for others.' But our service does not stop at how we cast our ballots. The Bible challenges us to get involved; to join a political party and help choose who the candidates are; to attend public meetings and stand for public positions ourselves, for instance as school governors or local councillors.

Ultimately, whatever electoral system we have, we will still be disillusioned and disappointed with the results, for no leader or team of leaders, however gifted, is able to solve all society's problems. I recall another anecdote about Mulla Nasruddin, who was asked to introduce rival political candidates at a hustings. He began by telling the crowd, 'I want to present to you someone who, above anyone else I know, has the welfare of each and every one of you at heart. More than anybody, they are singly devoted to our great and glorious nation.' Then he turned to the candidates and asked, 'Which of you wants to talk first?'

In reality, only when Christ finally establishes his kingdom will calls for reform cease.

This article is an abridged version of a presentation that appears in full on the Jubilee Centre website.