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Home / Ten principles to guide voting in the EU referendum and beyond

Ten principles to guide voting in the EU referendum and beyond

Simon Barrow

Abstract

In 2015, in the run-up to the UK general election, Ekklesia developed, through conversation and dialogue, a set of ten core practical principles (values-in-use, not just abstract theory) which we offered as benchmarks for assessing the impact of different political claims, aims and policies. These can also be applied, we believe, to the choices embodied in the European Union and in what lies in the decision between remaining within it or leaving it. They are offered here for these purposes, framed both in Christian terms and also in terms open to those of other life-stances. 

CONTENTS

Introduction

1.    A commitment to favouring the poorest and most vulnerable

2.    Actively redressing social and economic injustices and inequalities

3.    Welcoming the stranger and valuing displaced and marginalised people

4.    Seeing people, their dignity and rights as the solution not the problem

5.    Moving from punitive ‘welfare’ to a society where all can genuinely fare well

6.    Promoting community and neighbourhood empowerment

7.    Food, education, housing and sustainable income for all

8.    Care for planet and people as the basis for human development

9.    Investing in nonviolent alternatives to war and force as the basis for security

10.  Transparency, honesty and accountability in public and economic life

Further Reading

Authorship

About Ekklesia

Copyright notice

* Read and download the full paper (*.PDF Adobe Acrobat document) here: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/sites/ekklesia.co.uk/files/ten_values_in_eu_debate.pdf   

Further resources from Ekklesia on the EU referendum: *What kind of European future? (Ekklesia, 13 June 2016) – http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/23160
* Assessing Christian contributions to the EU referendum debate (Ekklesia, 20 June 2016) – http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/23188* Ten principles to guide voting in the EU referendum and beyond (Ekklesia, 21 June 2016) - http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/23194
* Ekklesia’s EU referendum briefing and commentary: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/eureferendum