Ed Balls and the State Pension

Great nan, if you think that then all the great social welfare steps of the last 200 years, from the abolition of slavery to the welfare state would have to be abandoned because the movements that have spear headed social justice have, in the past, almost always been spearheaded by people with strong religious beliefs that drove their belief in the reforms they championed.

Yes, I accept that religious people have done great good - but do you not think they would still be the kind of people who wanted to make the world a better place even if they had not been believers?
I could cite many examples of very bad things done in the name of religion, not just Christianity, but I won't bother. I still don't want the beliefs of others imposed on me by law.

Frank So what?

There is a difference I think between someone who has been driven by their religious beliefs and values to bring about social change, or devote themselves to public service, and senior officers of the Church expressing political views and aligning themselves with one political party or another.
In the case of the Church of England it is particularly problematic, since the C of E is the established Church of the State. Because of this, like the Queen and the judiciary, senior C of E leaders should remain apolitical.
That is not to say they should remain silent about social injustice, but they should be careful what they say and when they say it.
The Right Rev. Richard Chartres may have crossed that fine line, with his little foray into boomer-bashing following on so closely from Ed Balls' policy statement.

I agree with you Janea

But the Bishop that expressed the views about the baby boomers that led to your remarks was not trying to make any religious beliefs law, all he was doing was commenting on the undue advantages he felt one cohort of the population had received.

It is an interesting point of view that can be discussed, but religion doesn't have anything to do with it beyond the fact that he openly professes a religion.

Which group of the population is most likely to vote?

Exactly, Lilygran. Let them try, if they dare!