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Eye Ubiquitous/REX
UK News

Election: Deficit not a top concern for Christians

by Antony Bushfield

The survey, carried out by ComRes, found that the budget deficit, at the top of most party's manifestos, was not the main concern for Christians.

Instead reducing the gap between Britain's income and spending came in at number four on the priorities of Christians as they decide how to vote in the General Election.

ComRes interviewed 1,960 practising Christians in the UK in March and found the future of the National Health Service was the main concern with 42% saying it would influence how they vote.

A close second, at 41%, was making sure the economic growth was felt by all in society whilst making the welfare system fairer was third with 33%.

The fifth most important issue was reducing the country's budget deficit, with just 20% of Christians choosing it despite it being a major issue for all political parties.

Reducing crime and anti-social behaviour came in last in what Christians will consider before voting on May 7th with just 8% choosing that.

Premier's exclusive research found the Labour Party is the most trusted to deliver on the top three priority areas for practising Christians, with 33% choosing the party as best on the NHS, welfare and spreading the benefits of economic growth.

But in contrast the overwhelming majority trust the Conservative Party to manage the economy and promote growth.

Fifty percent of Christians trusted the Tories with the economy whilst just 13% thought it was best in Labour's hands.

UKIP is the party most Christians trust to control immigration with 28% choosing it compared to 20% for the Conservatives and 8% for Labour.

But the poll did find that at least a quarter of practising Christians in the UK do not trust any political party to deliver each of the policy areas tested.

The comprehensive research discovered that nearly half thought it was important their local candidate was Christian but a slightly lower amount (41%) thought it was important in a party leader.

Over 80% of practising Christians agreed with the statement that 'Britain seems to be going in the wrong direction morally', with 40% strongly agreeing and 41% tending to agree.

The majority of those asked (60%) strongly disagreed with the statement 'David Cameron was right to say that gay marriage was amongst his proudest achievements in 2014'.

One in five strongly agreed that David Cameron's time as Prime Minister has been bad for Christians in Britain, with a similar number [20%] strongly agreeing that they would have considered voting Conservative but gay marriage has put them off doing so.

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