1 in 5 people believe politics would improve if more MPs read the Bible.
 

In the lead up to the forthcoming election, 1 in 5 people believe that politics in the UK would be improved if more MPs read the Bible. A quarter of people also said they would trust an MP who is a practising Christian more than one who is not.

Moreover, almost three quarters of all people surveyed (71 per cent) say that the expenses scandal has heightened their concerns over perceived integrity issues.

The ComRes poll for Bible Society also found that:

• Over a third of people actually assumed that their MP was a Christian.
• 72 per cent of people say the personal integrity of their MP matters more to them than the party to which they belong to.
• Women (74 per cent) are more likely than men (69 per cent) to favour personal integrity over party allegiance - according to a Bible Society poll.

This means that nearly a quarter of people would still vote along party lines even if they believed that their MP had behaved with no personal integrity.

The survey was commissioned to mark the launch, in the House of Commons, of the new website SUSA, on 3 February 2010 at 6.30 pm - www.susa.info provides information and links for Christians who wish to get more involved in politics.

The poll will also inform a debate at the launch entitled ’Does Christianity have a future in politics?The chair of the debate is Rod Liddle and panel guests include Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association; Bishop Graham Cray; Ruth Gledhill from The Times and Steve Webb MP. Bible Society Parliamentary Officer, Dave Landrum said:

'Two-thirds of the UK regard themselves as Christian and globally, religion is growing fast. As faith is set to play an increasingly important role in politics in the future, it's important that this engagement is positive, hopeful and effective.  SUSA is the first website of its kind which aims to support Christians to see such engagement as being biblical, missional and possible.’
 
Note to Editors
ComRes interviewed 1,000 UK adults by telephone between 22-24 January 2010. Data was weighted to be representative demographically of all UK adults.  Please contact Senior Press Secretary, Rachel Ward, on 07884 116376 for more details.