Britain’s ruling Labour Party is courting the influential religious vote 14 weeks before a showdown with the opposition Conservatives in the upcoming general elections, The Scotsman reported on Tuesday, February 23.
"Faith voters massively outweigh 'Motorway Men' or 'Worcester Woman' or any other trendy demographic group identified by marketers," Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy will say in a speech to the Commons of Progress, a Labour think-tank.
He will note that over five million people have been to church, mosque or another place of worship in the last month.
"That’s a hugely significant figure."
British voters will go to polling stations in June to elect a new parliament.
Fourteen weeks before the vote, the Labour, in power since 1997, is lagging behind the opposition Conservatives in opinion polls.
In the 2005 general elections, the Labour won 31 percent of religious voters, nine point more than the Tories.
"Our lead among them in 2005 needs to be replicated in the coming election – and it will be if we reflect and respect their values and aspirations in our policies, as I believe we should," stressed Murphy.
"In the US, faith has long played a central part in politics...But it's wrong to think that it plays no role in British politics."
The Labour has been under fire from the Church of England and bishops who question the morality of its policies.
Earlier this month, Bishop of Durham Dr Tom Wright said religion has been put aside by the Labour governments since coming to power in 1997.
After criticism from the church, the ruling party dropped the Equality Bill, which would have sought to outlaw any form of discrimination against homosexuals.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the leader of Scotland’s 750,000 Roman Catholics, had threatened a "vocal and public campaign" against the bill.
Value Voters
The Labour party will also play the family card to win over the so-called value voters.
"Family is the most important thing in our country," Murphy, an MP for East Renfrewshire, will say.
"We love our family more than anything else. I am convinced that, like faith, family is another force for good."
He will argue that family values have always been at the very foundations of the Labour Party.
"As well as providing a supportive intellectual environment, it's a potential source of financial support in difficult days.
"All in all, families are our firm foundations, our rock in times of trouble."
Murphy, a prominent Catholic, is expected to turn the heat on the rival Tories over tax breaks for married couples.
"I celebrate marriage and family life, and while it's wrong for government to financially incentivize one family type over another.
"I am convinced family is the glue which hold our communities and society together."
"Faith voters massively outweigh 'Motorway Men' or 'Worcester Woman' or any other trendy demographic group identified by marketers," Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy will say in a speech to the Commons of Progress, a Labour think-tank.
He will note that over five million people have been to church, mosque or another place of worship in the last month.
"That’s a hugely significant figure."
British voters will go to polling stations in June to elect a new parliament.
Fourteen weeks before the vote, the Labour, in power since 1997, is lagging behind the opposition Conservatives in opinion polls.
In the 2005 general elections, the Labour won 31 percent of religious voters, nine point more than the Tories.
"Our lead among them in 2005 needs to be replicated in the coming election – and it will be if we reflect and respect their values and aspirations in our policies, as I believe we should," stressed Murphy.
"In the US, faith has long played a central part in politics...But it's wrong to think that it plays no role in British politics."
The Labour has been under fire from the Church of England and bishops who question the morality of its policies.
Earlier this month, Bishop of Durham Dr Tom Wright said religion has been put aside by the Labour governments since coming to power in 1997.
After criticism from the church, the ruling party dropped the Equality Bill, which would have sought to outlaw any form of discrimination against homosexuals.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the leader of Scotland’s 750,000 Roman Catholics, had threatened a "vocal and public campaign" against the bill.
Value Voters
The Labour party will also play the family card to win over the so-called value voters.
"Family is the most important thing in our country," Murphy, an MP for East Renfrewshire, will say.
"We love our family more than anything else. I am convinced that, like faith, family is another force for good."
He will argue that family values have always been at the very foundations of the Labour Party.
"As well as providing a supportive intellectual environment, it's a potential source of financial support in difficult days.
"All in all, families are our firm foundations, our rock in times of trouble."
Murphy, a prominent Catholic, is expected to turn the heat on the rival Tories over tax breaks for married couples.
"I celebrate marriage and family life, and while it's wrong for government to financially incentivize one family type over another.
"I am convinced family is the glue which hold our communities and society together."
