Disclaimer: The questions and answers recorded here are paraphrases only and are therefore not quotable; the interview was conducted without a dictaphone, and religion does not come under Mr Spring's remit.
Tony Blair's current Cabinet is surely the most overtly religious in politics since the evangelical politicians of the Victorian era. Blair is an Anglican, married to a Catholic, and when he took communion in his wife's church, his ecumenicism was criticised by the late Cardinal Hume. Half of the front bench are paid up members of the Christian Socialist Movement, and as such justify the beliefs that underlie their policies with reference to the Bible. One such front bencher is the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Smith. Across the Christian churches, many commentators have perceived a profound suspicion of the arts, and a judgemental fear of the modern media. It was interesting then, that the independent Christian thinker appointed to represent these areas of public life to Westminster chose to frame his policies in religious language, promising a "New Jenrsalem". This new cultural epoch, says his Conservative counterpart Richard Spring, has not emerged.
Christis: Is religion itself part of our culture?
Spring: It can be: its music, its buildings its academia all are part of our heritage.
Christis: And so religion and politics can be mixed?
Spring: they must be — they are inextricably linked. But of course this depends on the individual concerned. If one is true to one's principles, and one's principles have a foundation in a faith … I'm not a believer myself, but my political policies reflect my deepest principles.
Christis: What are Conservative Party principles?
Spring: each individual has a responsibility to society, to others, to their family, and should do what they can for them.
Christis: Family views have always been a tenet of your party's thinking, but couldn't William Hague's renewed emphasis on family values alienate minority groups, homosexuals for example?
Spring: No, absolutely not. William has been very careful to define the family unit loosely. Whoever the parents are, be they one or two, we perceive that the best way to bring up children is within this structure …
Christis: Within marriage?
Spring: Yes. As the best model that we have — we have to work with it. It should be preserved.
Christis: And what is marriage outside of a Christian (or other religious) framework? A purely legal concept?
Spring: Well, it's a financial way of thinking too — and our taxation policies reflect our belief in that. Marriage creates the financial and emotional stability for children. From family we build society.
Christis: There is so much apathy towards politics in contemporary society, particularly amongst students. People either don't know what they believe, or aren't interested. The Christian churches have to work with a very similar situation. Some say we live in a “Post-Christian” society. Does secularisation inevitably lead to the loss of the sense of community necessary for democracy to function?
Spring: I think the weakening influence of the church weakens society in general, yes. In the past, the church was at times a great binding force. It's up to individual churches to make themselves attractive just as it is with political parties.
Christis: Alongside the gradual demise of mainstream religion in Britain we've also seen a recent growth in reactionary, extreme, fundamentalist forms of Christianity, Islam and other religions. Should political parties attempt to tap into that depth of feeling?
Spring: Individual politicians can and do. Gary Streeter [chair of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship] leads cross-party prayer meetings. With his Conservative colleagues he's just produced a document that relates his faith to his mission as a politician.
Christis: The Low Church is gaining members whilst the Hish Church struggles to maintain its rich traditional heritage. Should the Church financially redistribute internally, or should the government support activities that some see as culture rather than worship?
Spring: I really can't comment on that.
Christis: Jesus told the rich man to sell everything he had, give the money to the poor, and follow him. Is this merely ideological rhetoric, or more than that?
Spring: Actually — I don't know a lot about theology — but part of the new “Commonsense Revolution” is to make it easier for rich individuals — and there were many created under the last Conservative government — to give to charitable causes. The system that we have is unclear, complicated. We want something with simplicity, like the American system.
Christis: So if that same Jesus were alive, would he vote Conservative?
Spring: That's hard, very hard (He looks at his watch). I do have a train to catch. I'm sorry (He offers his hand).
(We shake.)
The questions and answers recorded here are paraphrases only and are therefore not quotable; the interview was conducted without a dictaphone, and religion does not come under Mr Spring's remit.