Beliefs and the ballot

A group called Theos has been researching the relationship between religion and politics in Britain, and the results are intriguing.

Among Christians, Anglican church-goers are generally authoritarian in their views on such matters as law and order, school discipline and respect for British values (though some Anglican bishops hold left-leaning views). Catholics are far more left wing and the least authoritarian, in favour of welfare and more likely to vote Labour. Non-conformist churchgoers are evenly split between the three main parties.

Non-Christian religious believers incline towards the left. In 2010, Muslims tended strongly to vote Labour, as did Hindus and Sikhs. The Jewish vote was more Conservative. Buddhists tended to be Lib Dems.

People who attend any form of religious service regularly tend to be pro-welfare, and those who worship in non-Christian religions, notably Islam, are most consistently left wing in their values. Agnostics and non-church-goers of course span the whole range of political opinion, but are consistently libertarian, taking a strong line against censorship. They tend to be sceptical about management and convinced that ordinary working people do not get a fair share of the nation’s wealth.

Marx might have been amazed to see his views carried forward by a bevy of doubters, Muslims and Catholics. The opium of the people has not lost its power.