UK public sector net debt was at 96.4% of GDP as of the end of August 2025 and the level of debt at its highest since the early 1960s. These problems are not unique to the UK and many time writer for the Croydon Constitutionalists, Josh L. Ascough released a new book ‘A Theoretical Proposal for Fiscal Discipline and Debt Management‘ that addresses this issue seen across the western world. We speak with Josh.
“government or specific politician is looking to obtain a political legacy by creating a large infrastructure project; I think a certain HS2 project comes to most people’s minds”
Can you give our readers a brief overview of the book?
A Theoretical Proposal for Fiscal Discipline and Debt Management examines the risks of unconstrained debt spending by governments by examining the inevitable trade-offs and what is referred to as GAP (Government Agency Problems) that occur when governments have, in practice, no limit to their debt spending. Some of these are over-investment of government projects, where loose access to debt financing can encourage governments to maintain investment in projects whose costs have risen beyond their initial evaluation and assumed benefits, and legacy, where a government or specific politician is looking to obtain a political legacy by creating a large infrastructure project; I think a certain HS2 project comes to most people’s minds when they hear these two. And finally, the book ends with proposal a fiscal rule to limit the level of debt spending.
Your book proposes a 1.25 Rule, without giving away too much, what are the basics of the rule?
The 1.25 is a fiscal ratio that targets a maximum level of debt spending in relation to the nominal tax revenue the government receives and works in a similar fashion to the debt-to-equity finance in corporate finance models. For a simple example if we suppose the government revenue is 500 billion, then according to the ratio the government would have a maximum of 625 billion it could spend via debt. This would create the incentive for governments to effectively and efficiently allocate public resources into areas that will have long-term benefits with high long-term payoffs while still maintaining enough debt spending for initial investments into public works and as a reserve for crisis.
“create the incentive for governments to effectively and efficiently allocate public resources into areas that will have long-term benefits with high long-term payoffs”
This is your second book, your first being ‘Inflation and Monetary Policy: Understanding the Origins and Costs’. What were a couple of key points from that book?
A major point was that when working on a novel approach to the Environmental Kuznets Curve; which measures the relationship between income per capita and environmental degradation, and typically shows that as countries become richer, they reach a certain point where they’re able to afford more environmentally friendly and sustainable policies and sources of energy. However the problem is the curve uses nominal income rather than being adjusted for inflation, and so the work I did showed that when adjusted for inflation, many countries are in what I called a treadmill state, whereby inflation continues to erode the purchasing power of income per capita, leading to a continuing loop of environmental policies being unaffordable; so those who argue for more environmental protection policies should first look to stabilise and reduce inflation.
Another key point would be Nominal Gross Domestic Product (NGDP) targeting which ties to my second book, as I suggest combining the 1.25 rule as a fiscal policy with NGDP targeting as a monetary policy. In the first book however NGDP targeting is suggested as an alternative to inflation targeting and as a second-best solution to a truly free banking system, as it is able to emulate the monetary equilibrium that the free banking area naturally provided, but as a proxy, and would be able to respond to supply and demand shocks more appropriately than inflation targeting.
“those who argue for more environmental protection policies should first look to stabilise and reduce inflation”
How can people get these books, and more generally get in touch? (you don’t have to answer the get in touch part unless want)
People can find these books on Amazon for relatively cheap prices, the first is £12.99 and the newest book is £7.99. I keep prices down for my work as the money from them isn’t as important to me as getting the research and the final work out into the public.
Reform UK has been busy setting up branches across the country. In June we published details of the new Chair of the then newly formed Croydon branch of Reform UK. Former Councillor Daniel Tebbutt has recently been appointed the Deputy Chair of the branch. He writes for us about his path to this new role below.
“I got my friends and family involved to help deliver leaflets, and when people asked me “aren’t you a bit young for this?”, I responded, “age doesn’t matter when you’re as passionate as I am”
Residents deserve to know who and what they are voting for – I pride myself on being open and transparent when it comes to my political record.
I joined Labour at 15 years old, I was a big believer in Jeremy Corbyn and he appealed to me, as he did so many other young people at that time.
I was elected on a Labour ticket as a District Councillor at the age of 18. I worked hard to get elected, I got my friends and family involved to help deliver leaflets, and when people asked me “aren’t you a bit young for this?”, I responded, “age doesn’t matter when you’re as passionate as I am”. That’s what I was and have always been, passionate about delivering meaningful, lasting change.
So here I was, 18-year-old local lad now a part of a Labour Group, I still remember the excitement of stepping into the chamber for the first time – there’s nothing quite like it!
“Shortly afterwards, as I had lost all faith in the party and its principles, I resigned my Labour whip and sat as an Independent. Do I regret my decision? No”
Over the following months, I consulted a Conservative Cabinet Member who was more knowledgeable on planning than I was. A controversial application had been submitted in my ward and I sought some advice on how to approach this.
There was no ‘cloak and dagger’ or stealth involved, a simple coffee and chat at the local coffee shop.
On discovering my conversation with the Cabinet Member, I was ordered to attend a meeting at the council offices with Labour Group Officers. Amongst other things, an individual who was clearly furious mentioned that “Tories should be put up against a wall and shot”, I was horrified. I still remember to this day, my shock at this statement.
Shortly afterwards, as I had lost all faith in the party and its principles, I resigned my Labour whip and sat as an Independent. Do I regret my decision? No, because I wouldn’t be where I am today without taking it.
I soon realised that I wasn’t able to deliver on my promises to residents as an Independent Councillor, I simply didn’t have the experience or the network behind me. These were a couple of reasons why I joined the Local Conservatives.
“One of the duties I enjoy most is collaborating with the membership – I’m determined to drive Reform’s agenda for renewal and will work to get as many councillors in Croydon as possible”
On leaving Leicestershire and moving to Croydon in 2022, I re-joined the Labour Party as I thought that was where I belonged. I’d got materially involved in Croydon Labour in 2024, supported the mayoral campaign (even writing a policy document!), and became an officer. I applied to be a Councillor and was offered an interview, which I declined.
Almost as soon as Labour entered Government, they started breaking promises. I sat back, like many others who voted for Labour in the General Election and thought “I didn’t vote for this. I didn’t vote for vulnerable people, pensioners, farmers to be targeted”, I was losing faith in Starmer and the party leadership.
And then over the summer of 2025, Starmer announced that the UK Government would recognise Palestine as a state in September, if a ceasefire wasn’t agreed. A move which terrorist organisation, Hamas – celebrated, and in turn, betraying one of the UK’s closest allies, Israel. For me, this was the final nail in the coffin. I drafted my resignation letter, cut up my membership card and left Labour – I no longer felt represented by this party.
On leaving Labour I felt, and still feel, that I can make a positive difference through politics, I’m passionate about improving the lives of people. My mission is to help renew Croydon, forging it into a Borough that fills residents with pride. This is why I joined Reform UK – a party that I’m proud to be a member of, one that aligns with my beliefs.
Owing to my experience, I was asked to take up the role of Interim Deputy Chair of Reform UK Croydon, I accepted. One of the duties I enjoy most is collaborating with the membership – I’m determined to drive Reform’s agenda for renewal and will work to get as many councillors in Croydon as possible. I believe only Reform can fix Croydon after almost two decades of managed decline.
Julia Searle is the Reform UK candidate for the 6th November, Lingfield, Crowhurst & Tandridge ward by-election in Tandridge. We spoke with Julia about her decision to stand.
“I’m a fighter and I’m here to be heard, to stand up for local people’s viewpoints and change sickness into healthy progress”
Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run?
I’ve lived in Surrey all my life. I have brought up my children in my property for the last 27 years. I have been a Parent/Teacher and Chairperson at my local infants’ school in Dormansland, as well as my children attending Lingfield Primary School before going on to senior schools.
I’ve always been an independent thinker; I’ve set up and run multiple businesses that I still run after 17 years. I’ve had the challenge of bringing up my children on my own, making ends meet and paying my mortgage.
Over the years, I have stood in local elections, I’ve stood in Reigate as an MP candidate and for Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey. I’m pretty well versed with understanding the impact of government involvement at local level and the sickness that is spreading into our local communities as a result, particularly the relaxed planning laws. I’m not frightened about voicing my opinions, they need to be voiced.
I’m not frightened to object to ridiculous local council decisions on excessive council taxes and lack of realistically affordable housing.
I’m a fighter and I’m here to be heard, to stand up for local people’s viewpoints and change sickness into healthy progress.
“We have a ridiculous decision by the Labour government to allow farmers to change agricultural land into solar farms. what a blight on the landscape!”
You’re the candidate for Lingfield & Crowhurst ward. What are the main concerns in the area?
My policies are around protecting the green belt, using brown field sites for housing and making it affordable for young people to get on the property ladder.
I often speak with local residents about their concerns. We have a ridiculous decision by the Labour government to allow farmers to change agricultural land into solar farms. what a blight on the landscape!
There is an elephant in the room. For many years, the local Conservatives – and now Labour – have been turning a blind eye to unauthorised traveller sites, which are blighting the green belt.
In both Bones Lane Lingfield and just outside Lingfield towards the Mormon Temple, there is an unmatched level of activity where mobile homes are being put in fields.
The council is weak and slow. New rules to tackle this spread before green belt becomes a thing of the past and council taxpayers’ foot the bill for people who do not want to pay any tax.
Lastly, we have young people and war veterans locally cannot get onto the property ladder. They have lived in the area for much of their lives but housing is not affordable. Waiting lists are long and the wrong people jump the queue. This needs to be addressed now.
What do you see as the major issues more widely in Tandridge and if elected what do you hope to champion?
As I’ve said above any of the issues I’ve mentioned are major. I’m a fearless person; I can hold others to account and challenge poor decisions. Let’s change local laws on removing unauthorised housing sites from green belt land in Tandridge.
I want to ensure we get solar farms on brownfield sites OR pay businesses to have them on their land and get them off agricultural green belt. I believe we also need a scheme that works for the young and veterans for actual affordable housing.
“we have young people and war veterans locally cannot get onto the property ladder. They have lived in the area for much of their lives but housing is not affordable”
How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?
My leaflets will be distributed to local residents soon, please vote for me. Become a candidate for Reform or even join our local Reform meetings by contacting our local Chair Chris Scott at eastsurrey@reformparty.uk.
Jacqueline Thomson is the Reform UK candidate for the 16th October, Caterham Valley division by-election in Surrey. We spoke with Jacqueline about her decision to stand.
“I know that the fresh approach offered by REFORM UK is what our country badly needs”
Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run?
My name is Jacqueline Thomson I have three grown up children, three grandchildren and a very supportive husband. I am now retired. Previously I dedicated my career to the South East Coast Ambulance Service and before that, I worked at Life Care, Caterham-On-The-Hill looking after people with learning disabilities.
I have always been interested in how our country is run. I feel very strongly that ordinary people like me have been completely ignored for many years and now I am retired I want to get more involved with our future Government. I know that the fresh approach offered by REFORM UK is what our country badly needs. I am tremendously honoured that REFORM UK has given me the opportunity to represent Caterham Valley in the Bye Election on 16th. October 2025.
You’re the candidate for Caterham Valley division. What are the main concerns in the area?
The concerns that keep being raised include:
Croydon Road Works – Delays to the Croydon Road redevelopment work caused by issues with existing drainage.
Flooding – Often caused by poor drainage
Parish Council Merger – The proposal to merge the Caterham Hill and Caterham Valley Parish Councils.
Town masterplan – Looking at a broader vision for the development of the Hill and Valley communities.
“I have always been interested in how our country is run. I feel very strongly that ordinary people like me have been completely ignored for many years”
What do you see as the major issues more widely in Surrey and if elected what do you hope to champion?
Cost of living crisis –This leading to increased demand for crisis support
Crime and Community – Retail theft, anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, child exploitation, serious and organised crime.
Infrastructure and Highways – Pothole problems, poor road surfaces and pavements, issues with trees and hedges.
I would like to especially champion solutions to reduce the abuse of children and solve the pothole problems.
Jonathan Rollason is the Reform UK candidate for the 23rd October, Dunster division by-election in Somerset. We spoke with Jonathan about his decision to stand.
“I decided to stand for election because I want to ensure that local voices are heard loud and clear in decisions that affect our daily lives”
Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run?
I’ve lived in this community for many years and care deeply about the people and places that make it so special. I decided to stand for election because I want to ensure that local voices are heard loud and clear in decisions that affect our daily lives. Too often, residents feel that choices are made without them – I want to change that by being an accessible, accountable councillor who works with the community, not just on its behalf.
“A particular concern locally is the uncertainty around Minehead Hospital. Many people rely on it for essential services, and there’s real anxiety about the future of those services being reduced or centralised further away”
You’re the candidate for Dunster division ward. What are the main concerns in the area?
Dunster and the surrounding villages are proud, close-knit communities, but there are real challenges. Residents are worried about the lack of affordable housing for local people, the pressure on rural transport, and the need to protect our environment while supporting local businesses and tourism. Flooding, road safety, and access to services for older residents also come up again and again.
A particular concern locally is the uncertainty around Minehead Hospital. Many people rely on it for essential services, and there’s real anxiety about the future of those services being reduced or centralised further away. Protecting and strengthening the hospital’s role is vital if we want to make sure local people can get the care they need without long, difficult journeys.
“Somerset has huge potential, but we need a council that invests in people and places fairly, not just in the bigger towns”
What do you see as the major issues more widely in Somerset and if elected what do you hope to champion?
Across Somerset, many of the issues are shared – affordable housing, the future of farming, protecting our beautiful countryside, and ensuring our young people have opportunities to stay and thrive here. I’m particularly keen to champion better infrastructure for rural communities, stronger support for small businesses, and more joined-up action on climate and nature recovery. Somerset has huge potential, but we need a council that invests in people and places fairly, not just in the bigger towns.
How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?
I’d love to hear from anyone who has questions, concerns, or ideas. People can get in touch by email chair.tivertonminehead@reformuk.com, or come along to one of the campaign events. Whether it’s displaying a poster, joining us on the doorstep, or just having a conversation, every bit of support matters – because this campaign is about working together for Dunster and Somerset.
Dale Laymanis the Reform UK candidate for the 16th October Guildford South East ward by-election in Surrey. We spoke with Dale about his decision to stand.
“Like many people, I felt let down by the Conservatives, while Labour and the Liberal Democrats offer nothing more than managed decline. Reform UK is different”
Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run?
My name is Dale Layman, and I’ve lived in Guildford for over 30 years. After training for three years in Eastbourne, I began my career as a state-registered chiropodist in the NHS before moving into pharmaceutical sales. From “carrying the bag” as a representative, I worked my way up to become a national sales manager, enjoying more than 20 years of success in the industry before taking early retirement.
I joined Reform UK because, quite simply, I was tired of just complaining about the state of the country. Like many people, I felt let down by the Conservatives, while Labour and the Liberal Democrats offer nothing more than managed decline. Reform UK is different. We believe in controlled borders, safe streets, freedom of speech, hard work rewarded on merit, and energy security based on common sense, not net-zero dogma.
I didn’t join this party to make up the numbers. I believe my skills and drive can help take Reform forward locally and, in doing so, make a real difference to the lives of my fellow residents. Standing as a candidate is the obvious next step.
“Residents deserve practical, affordable policies that deliver real benefits — not expensive, ideological experiments”
You’re the candidate for Guildford South East ward. What are the main concerns in the area?
In Guildford South East, the concerns mirror those across much of Guildford — and Surrey as a whole — and they are deeply troubling. Residents pay some of the highest council taxes in the country but receive some of the poorest services in return.
Guildford Borough Council’s flagship Weyside Urban Village project is running a multi-million-pound deficit, while auditors have issued a “disclaimer of opinion” on the council’s accounts — a red flag for taxpayers. Meanwhile, developments such as the Guildford Cathedral site and North Street remain stalled, blocked, or watered down.
Housing pressures must be addressed, but building more homes is not enough — the infrastructure must come with it: schools, roads, and social care. I will prioritise brownfield regeneration, sustainable communities, and smarter use of derelict sites over unsustainable greenfield sprawl.
I also want to see common-sense transport policies that support motorists rather than punish them. That means opposing ULEZ-style charges, blanket 20mph zones, unaffordable energy schemes, and costly Vision Zero measures. Residents deserve practical, affordable policies that deliver real benefits — not expensive, ideological experiments.
What do you see as the major issues more widely in Surrey, and if elected, what do you hope to champion?
The challenges across Surrey are systemic. Financial mismanagement and poor decision-making have left Surrey County Council’s debt soaring by 48% in just one year — from £728.9 million to £1.07 billion. That burden falls directly on taxpayers and drains money away from vital services such as schools, roads, libraries, and social care.
If elected, I will fight to stop wasteful projects and restore financial discipline. Surrey residents deserve transparency, accountability and value for money. My priorities are:
Sound finances: tackling mismanagement so taxpayers’ money funds frontline services, not vanity schemes.
Sensible housing policy: development that’s planned responsibly, with infrastructure and services to match.
Transport freedom: rejecting punitive, anti-car policies and supporting measures that genuinely ease congestion and improve safety.
Above all, I want Surrey residents to feel their voices are heard, their money is respected, and their concerns are acted upon.
“The challenges across Surrey are systemic. Financial mismanagement and poor decision-making have left Surrey County Council’s debt soaring by 48% in just one year”
How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?
Harry Phillips is the Reform UK candidate for the 16th October, Staines ward by-election in Spelthorne. We spoke with Harry about his decision to stand.
Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run? I’ve lived in Spelthorne all my life, growing up in Stanwell before moving to Staines two years ago. At 31, I run my own businesses in cosmetics and social media marketing while also training as an accountant. I decided to run because residents deserve a strong local voice—someone focused on real issues, not political games. I want to deliver tangible outcomes for Staines.
“I decided to run because residents deserve a strong local voice—someone focused on real issues, not political games. I want to deliver tangible outcomes for Staines”
You’re the candidate for Staines ward. What are the main concerns in the area? Residents tell me they’re worried about crime, anti-social behaviour, and the pace of overdevelopment. People want safer streets, a regenerated High Street and Elmsleigh Centre, and more investment in local infrastructure. Protecting green spaces is also a big concern, ensuring our town grows sustainably. My priority is listening to residents and working with them to deliver practical improvements for everyday life.
“People want safer streets, a regenerated High Street and Elmsleigh Centre, and more investment in local infrastructure”
What do you see as the major issues more widely in Spelthorne and if elected what do you hope to champion? Spelthorne has been let down by years of mismanagement, leaving finances unstable and services at risk. I want to challenge waste, stop “fire sales” of council assets, and focus on long-term investment that benefits residents. If elected, I’ll push for regeneration, progress on the River Thames Scheme, and policies that improve quality of life—while protecting our community from opportunistic overdevelopment.
“If elected, I’ll push for regeneration, progress on the River Thames Scheme, and policies that improve quality of life”
How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign? We’re always looking for local residents to get involved, whether that’s delivering leaflets, sharing campaign messages, or talking to neighbours. Anyone can contact our campaign team directly by emailing chair.spelthorne@reformuk.com, or if you have a leaflet scan the QR code to join or donate. Together, we can build a strong Reform UK voice in Spelthorne that puts residents and community first.
We spoke with Chase Blount the Chairman of the Libertarian Conservatives.
“We aim to sway the membership’s opinion further towards free markets and individualist social policies”
Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us about your group?
We’re the Libertarian Conservative Interest Group, a grassroots, youth-led organisation aimed at promoting libertarian and classically liberal policies within the Conservative Party. We aim to sway the membership’s opinion further towards free markets and individualist social policies, as well as scrutinising the Conservatives when this might not be the case. We’re also a space for libertarian and classical liberal Conservative members to connect and socialise.
“We injected freedom into the state education sector by empowering academies, which significantly improved pupil outcomes…. We also scrapped Labour’s ID card scheme, something we libertarians will appreciate”
Many of us feel the Conservative Party wasn’t very libertarian over it’s 14years in government. What do you think were the highlights and lowlights of that period?
We agree – whilst we definitely did a better job in government than Labour or the Liberal Democrats would have ever done, mistakes were made. In particular, we often prioritised placating the electorate over implementing the bold, long-term decisions that Britain needed. Low points include a failure to reform planning and build again, the implementation of the Triple Lock, and much of the pandemic – especially the national debt ballooning, government infringements on our civil liberties and instances of corruption and sleaze. But we achieved notable successes in government too. We injected freedom into the state education sector by empowering academies, which significantly improved pupil outcomes. We raised the Personal Allowance for income tax, delivered same-sex marriage, and managed to cut National Insurance Contributions for working families. We also scrapped Labour’s ID card scheme, something we libertarians will appreciate.
What’s surprised you most in the past year of Labour government?
What’s surprised us the most has been the speed at which Labour broke their promises. We all remember how they pledged no new taxes in the run-up to the general election – then almost immediately upon entering government, they had discovered a £22 billion “black hole” and used it to justify £40 billion in higher taxes on the British people. Labour’s taxes on business are decimating our economy. Investment plans have been cancelled and layoffs expanded – so much so that job vacancies have fallen by 5.8% between May and July. The Conservatives must return to government and reverse these disastrous policies, or the British economy will continue to decline.
“Young people don’t want an unaffordable housing market or a higher tax burden due to an exploding national debt – and libertarianism has the solutions”
What would you like to see the Conservative Party focus on now from opposition?
As you may expect, we’d like to see the Conservatives take a much more libertarian direction. We must be bolder on the issue of housing and endorse significant planning reform, and fight Nimbyism within our own party. We also need to be upfront and honest about our entitlements, including pensions, to make those systems much more sustainable. These issues aren’t solely libertarian, they’re also pro-young people. Young people don’t want an unaffordable housing market or a higher tax burden due to an exploding national debt – and libertarianism has the solutions. That’s why the Libertarian Conservatives have received overwhelming support from Young Conservatives across the country.
How can people find out more about your group?
We operate social media accounts on X and Instagram, on which you can keep up to date with what we’re doing. If you’d like to join the Group as a member, we’re open to all Conservative members who share our values and principles. Please feel free to DM @liberty_tories on X or Instagram and we’ll add you to our members community on WhatsApp. We’d love to have you onboard!
“Christian Democracy has long been a strong presence on the continent, but it never truly gained ground in the UK… Our mission is to change that by applying traditional Christian principles within a modern democratic framework”
We first spoke with you when you were the SDP Coordinator in Dorset in January last year. Can you tell us a bit about your political journey since then?
When you last interviewed me, I was serving as Dorset County Coordinator for the Social Democratic Party. During the general election, I managed six campaigns—two of which delivered some of the party’s best results nationally. However, after the election I began to doubt both the SDP’s direction and its prospects for real electoral success. This led me to leave the party and rejoin Reform UK in October of last year.
Since then, I have managed a local election campaign for Reform in Wiltshire, where our candidate secured second place with over a quarter of the vote, beating the Liberal Democrats. At present, most of my political work is focused on my think tank, Christian Democracy UK, which I founded last month. Alongside that, I remain active as a member of my local branch of the New Culture Forum.
“True freedom and flourishing are found in strong families, vibrant local communities, and a society rooted in mutual responsibility”
You’re the Chair of Christian Democracy UK. Can you tell us about the organisation and what its aims are?
The group exists to promote the values of traditional Christianity across all areas of policy, rooted in the philosophy of Christian Democracy. Emerging in 19th-century Europe, Christian Democracy has long been a strong presence on the continent, but it never truly gained ground in the UK, where politics has been largely secular in outlook. Our mission is to change that by applying traditional Christian principles within a modern democratic framework.
Our core tenets include:
Sanctity of Life: We believe every human being is created in the image of God, giving each person inherent dignity and value. From this conviction flows our consistent life ethic—opposing abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment alike.
Communitarianism: We affirm that people are deeply connected and must work together for the common good—not out of vague compassion, but as members of one human family. True freedom and flourishing are found in strong families, vibrant local communities, and a society rooted in mutual responsibility, with special care for the most vulnerable and marginalised.
Secure Borders: Loving our neighbour also means protecting our communities, families, and the common good. Mass immigration places enormous strain on housing, services, and social cohesion. While compassion remains essential, it must be balanced with justice, order, and responsibility towards our own citizens and the health of our nation.
Social Market Economy: Guided by the principle of distributism, we believe the world’s productive assets should be widely owned rather than concentrated in the hands of the few. We reject both state socialism and unrestrained free-market capitalism, embracing a ‘third way’ that upholds private property, ensures fair taxation (with the wealthiest contributing more), and guarantees social protections for those unable to participate in the labour market.
Stewardship: Humanity has been entrusted with the care of God’s creation. We reject selfish exploitation of the natural world, instead promoting a balanced approach that recognises human beings as stewards, not owners. Environmental policy should be wise and proportionate—protecting creation without imposing extreme measures, such as rigid Net Zero targets, that risk severe economic and social disruption.
Unlike many Christian groups that focus solely on moral and social issues, we apply Christian principles comprehensively—across economics, housing, energy, foreign policy, and more. On some issues we may lean towards centre-left solutions, while maintaining a firm social conservatism on others.
Our vision is to represent the sensible centre—a movement uniting Christians across the political spectrum, challenging the excessive individualism and materialism of today, and rejecting the extremes of both left and right.
How do you see Christian Democracy UK fitting in with the political parties we have today?
We are a cross-party pressure group – with active members in seven political parties, including the three largest parties by membership (Reform UK, Labour and the Conservatives). Our role is not to replace existing parties but to introduce a distinctly Christian democratic perspective into their debates and policies.
We seek to shape the national conversation by reminding politicians of the moral and spiritual dimensions of political life, whether on economics, family, community, or national culture. By working across party lines, we can advocate for the communitarian principles of Christian social teaching in a way that transcends partisan divides. Our mission is to ensure that Christian values are not side lined but actively shape Britain’s political future – which is particularly important in a nation where religion has experienced a sharp decline in recent years.
What areas do you think a Christian perspective can inform policy across a range of parties?
A Christian perspective can inform policy across every area of public life, not just the moral sphere. Questions of economics, welfare, housing, education, foreign affairs, and even environmental stewardship are ultimately questions of human dignity, the common good, and our responsibilities before God.
While groups on both the left and right often reduce politics to snappy slogans and populism, we insist that politics is first about people—the flourishing of families, communities, and society rooted in truth. From distributist economics to strengthening the traditional family unit, from just foreign policy to care for creation, we believe Christian principles offer a unifying and humanising vision that can enrich and correct the political debates across the spectrum.
“We affirm the free practice of religion as a cornerstone of democracy and human dignity. However, we also reject the notion that this requires a faithless public square”
What stance does Christian Democracy UK take on working with other religious communities?
First and foremost, we are a Christian organisation, rooted in the teaching and tradition of the Church. Our mission is to apply Christian Democratic principles to public life, and so naturally our membership is overwhelmingly made up of practicing Christians. That said, we welcome support and contributions from those of other faiths—or even of no faith—who share our vision for the common good.
We affirm the free practice of religion as a cornerstone of democracy and human dignity. However, we also reject the notion that this requires a faithless public square. We believe Christianity, as Britain’s historic faith, has a rightful role in shaping public life and guiding policy, alongside a recognition of religious freedom for all.
“This resurgence is encouraging, because it shows that the next generation is not turning its back on faith altogether, but is instead rediscovering it as an anchor in turbulent times”
What do you think is the outlook for Christianity in the UK today, and what are any positive trends?
Of course, there are challenges when looking at the outlook for Christianity today. The 2021 census recorded the lowest proportion of people identifying as Christian in our history, while the numbers of the irreligious and other faiths continue to rise. Attendance in the Church of England has fallen to record lows, with many parishes struggling to keep their doors open.
Yet, alongside these concerns, there are real signs of hope. In the past few years we’ve seen a marked rise in youth attendance at church. Among young men, the figure has risen from just 8% in 2018 to 20% in 2025, with young women also increasing to 12% over the same period. This resurgence is encouraging, because it shows that the next generation is not turning its back on faith altogether, but is instead rediscovering it as an anchor in turbulent times.
Many young men in particular are looking for a rooted alternative to the instability and hostility of secular liberal culture, which often treats them with suspicion for who they are. For them, Christianity offers a way back to tradition, responsibility, and community – and a faith that can give real meaning to their lives.
How can people get in touch if they want to know more?
If you’d like to get involved, there are several ways to do so. You can reach me directly at max.stenner@icloud.com to express interest in joining our working group, or follow us on Twitter/X at @christdemsuk to stay up to date with our latest announcements and publications.
Our official launch will take place at the New Culture Forum’s Christianity and Politics Conference on 30 September 2025, held at Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, Blandford Forum, at 7pm. The event will feature a keynote address from myself, alongside Adam Smith-Connor (noted for his arrest for silent prayer) and Tyler White, Leader of the National Distributist Party. Attendance is free and open to all—details can be found on the poster below. If you’d like to reserve a place, simply email me.
Steve Davison is a founder of Politics in Pubs, a network we’ve joined. Steve also writes and releases videos as Baffled by Science. We speak to Steve about these and more.
“One of the things that stood out was how conservatives, socialists, libertarians and even communists, could enjoy a drink together and have a healthy, friendly debate – something increasingly unusual today”
We first meet you through Politics in Pubs, can you tell our readers a bit about the group and how you got involved?
Certainly. Politics in Pubs is a free speech group that meets monthly in pubs around the country to discuss topic political and cultural issues. Our members come from across the political spectrum and in general feel that the current political system is broken.
The founding members were involved in the Manchester Leavers of Britain campaign and forged a great relationship during that time. One of the things that stood out was how conservatives, socialists, libertarians and even communists, could enjoy a drink together and have a healthy, friendly debate – something increasingly unusual today.
When the referendum result came in, we wondered whether there would be a way to keep the group going. After discussions over a BBQ one afternoon, t’committee (as we came to be called) decided that yes, we really valued the forum and wanted to keep it going.
However, we couldn’t be called “Leavers” anymore, particularly as we wanted to grow the group irrespective of political affiliation and Brexit preference. The name “Politics in Pubs” fell out of a brainstorming session during the BBQ. It answers two obvious questions: what do we do and where do we do it? We also really wanted to help preserve our pub culture when the hospitality industry is under threat as never before.
Our members value the freedom to question and to speak openly – we don’t record meetings or name individuals if they prefer us not. Many of our members are active in other areas such as voluntary community groups, campaigning groups and a variety of political parties. These are people who do give a damn and want to have an impact on Britain’s future direction. We look for opportunities to influence, learn from each other as well as network with groups and organisations across the country who share similar aims to our own – which is how we met your group.
We carried on meeting in a variety of pubs around North Manchester, beginning in November 2021. We struggled at first because with the referendum over we didn’t have a focus for discussion but kept the meetings going with members leading discussion on topics that we chose at each meeting. Then in January 2023 we had our first guest speaker, and this became the model for future meetings. Attendance grew to a regular 20-30 people, and we started a new group in Newcastle which has become very popular.
In terms of people on t’committee, we have a great chairperson who keeps meetings running smoothly. We also have an amazing secretary who produces engaging write-ups of every meeting and a keen treasurer who looks after our funds which all come from voluntary member donations. My background is in IT, so I put together our website which acts as the hub for communicating with members and subscribers around the country.
What have been some highlights from your discussions and debates?
That’s a really hard one. We are very lucky to have had some fantastic speakers leading really challenging debates on a wide variety of controversial topics including the pandemic response, gender identity ideology, 15-minute cities, Net Zero, trust in the media, assisted dying, devolution, the future of NATO and voting reform.
We have also provided a forum for political parties to let us know what they are up to and have been following Reform UK and the SDP for some time. We have struggled to get speakers from the mainstream parties – though they are very welcome. That said, we do have a meeting with Graham Stringer coming up, but he’s a bit of a maverick in the Labour Party, someone who isn’t afraid to speak his mind.
Our most recent discussion on whether AI can save democracy was fascinating and caused a lot of heated debate. However, there have been disappointments. A local humanist came to tell us that god doesn’t exist. He also said we should follow the experts who say the world is doomed by climate change. He just couldn’t see the irony!
“there is plenty of evidence contradicting the idea of catastrophic man-made global warming. This was the first time I really came to appreciate how much we are lied to by the media and politicians”
You have a Substack and YouTube channel ‘Baffled by Science’ what’s the idea behind the channel?
At the moment “Baffled by Science” is more a vehicle to help me maintain my sanity than a serious attempt to influence the world! I have been interested in climate change for over 30 years. I studied physics at university, gaining a D.Phil. in physics in the 80’s. Although my area of research wasn’t directly in climate physics I worked in related areas and have a good grasp of the issues involved in analysing data and building climate models.
For quite a while I went along with the mainstream narrative because I just hadn’t had time to look at climate specifically. I didn’t need to – there was plenty of information out there and I had no reason to distrust it. That changed suddenly as a result of a challenge over a beer in the pub.
I suggested to a friend that we needed to take every opportunity to go skiing as a result of global warming meaning there soon wouldn’t be any more snow in the alps. This still makes me cringe when I think about this. Anyway, my friend was having none of it, simply saying there was plenty of data to the contrary if only I looked. I took the challenge and went off thinking how easy this was going to be.
I will never forget the shock of actually doing the research for the first time and very quickly finding multiple sources of data and analysis showing that there is plenty of evidence contradicting the idea of catastrophic man-made global warming. This was the first time I really came to appreciate how much we are lied to by the media and politicians. Once that happens you start to question everything you see and read.
This doesn’t mean that the climate isn’t changing of course. However, I found that it isn’t changing as much as the models predict and isn’t changing unusually – looking back over longer timescales. I also found that there are plenty of natural explanations for observed warming.
None of this is communicated to the public but policy makers have channelled trillions of dollars into projects around the world, supposedly to save the planet. Many of these projects will likely make things worse since the renewable energy brings many issues, not least being expensive, intermittent and challenging to balance on the grid. And don’t get me started on EVs. Clearly many people support this with the best intentions but equally there are many people with vested interests making fortunes on the back of things like carbon trading and renewable subsidies.
Rather than try and convince people about the realistic state of climate science and its dismal communication, I decided to start blogging about the consequences of implementing policies based on a false premise. I have been highly influenced in this respect by organisations like the Global Policy Warming Foundation, the Renewable Energy Foundation, along with energy bloggers like David Turver, Kathryn Porter, Richard Lyon and Paul Homewood.
I don’t expect it to become wildly popular but the process of writing and video making, employing AI tools to assist with the research and video production, is a very creative and enjoyable experience. It will be some time before I have that gold plaque on the bookcase, but I’ll keep at it.
“This is interesting as a stress test, but clearly unrealistic as the most likely scenario. It is disturbing therefore that advocacy groups, the media and policy makers concentrate on this scenario. In the process we generate hopelessly unrealistic policy, such as Net Zero by 2030”
This is one of the many areas where science results are communicated badly to the public, often deliberately so. Unless you have been involved in writing computer models it can be very difficult to appreciate how to respond to the results they generate.
A good case in point would be the pandemic predictions produced by Niall Fergusson at Imperial College. It turns out that his model assumptions were unrealistic. However, at no point did he make clear to policy makers the uncertainty inherent in his forecasts. It’s hard to estimate the incredible damage done by not challenging his assumptions. We need to appreciate that models are at best a method to better understand what might happen if certain other things happen.
Climate models are exactly the same. They are made up of physically based equations (our best guesses for how climate really works) as well as multiple assumptions about how different parts of the climate interact. These include thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, radiative transfer, cloud microphysics and geophysics (my specialism) plus a several more.
However, under no circumstances can they be regarded as providing an true and accurate representation of the climate – it is simply too complex. These models are refined regularly, but recently some of them were found to run hot, predicting unrealistic high temperatures. For the first time, scientists on both sides of the debate agreed that this is a problem.
On top of these equations, the models are also run under a number of scenarios which describe how socio-economic and technical factors will change over time. These scenarios are called Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) and describe future high, medium and low emissions scenarios. The worst-case scenario, RCP 8.5, imagines a future with continued high emissions including a massive increase in coal use. This is interesting as a stress test, but clearly unrealistic as the most likely scenario. It is disturbing therefore that advocacy groups, the media and policy makers concentrate on this scenario. In the process we generate hopelessly unrealistic policy, such as Net Zero by 2030.
The societal consequences of this will be profound as I discuss in another video “A Review of the iron law of energy”. Not only are we squandering huge resources tackling a non-existent problem, but we are also starving capital from projects that could make guaranteed improvements to human health and prosperity.
“the new wind farm is being developed to meet an arbitrary government target. It will produce very expensive energy as a result of public subsidies. It will have no impact on the global temperature”
Your involved in a big campaign against a new wind farm between Edenfield, Rawtenstall and Rochdale. What are your main objections to the wind farm?
Fundamentally the new wind farm is being developed to meet an arbitrary government target. It will produce very expensive energy as a result of public subsidies. It will have no impact on the global temperature but will do massive damage to our unique peat moorland – something the government has separately committed to protecting!
It will be located either side of and cross an old, cobbled road called the Cotton Famine Road. This is a reminder of the harsh times cotton workers had to endure during the Cotton Famine in their support of the abolition of slavery and is unique in linking the American Civil War to social changes in our own country. In order to alleviate the poverty, the mill workers were engaged in a huge public works project, laying over 300,000 stone setts across the moor. Walking or riding up this road is a really moving experience. The wind farm will completely destroy the peace and tranquillity of this incredible heritage asset.
Our local MPs, Labour, are strongly supportive of the proposals. This includes my own MP, Elsie Blundell, who described the importance of the Cotton Famine Road in her maiden speech! Both local councils, Labour controlled, are desperate for the funding that the wind farm would bring them. Draw your own conclusions!
Are there any last thoughts you would like to leave our readers with?
Nothing profound! I recommend finding groups like ours and yours to meet up and debate, learn new things and of course, simply to socialise. I have made many new friends through Politics in Pubs, all of them deeply concerned about the state of our country and keen to see things improve for the better.
The other thing I would say, as a counter to the too common attitude of “why bother voting”, is that we are demonstrably going through a period of profound change. The two-party system is dead – in fact those two parties are already on life support. They just don’t realise it. Who would have thought that even a couple of years ago?
