2. SOME KEY ISSUES that will feature in political debates as the elections draw near: Education, Children and Youth The Economy and Taxation Immigration and Human Trafficking Employment NHS Law and Order (inc Religious Freedom) Benefits and Poverty Foreign Affairs, especially EU

3. Whatever you think, politicians aren’t all the same. Seriously, look up their lesser-known policies. Nigel Farage (UKIP) - Guns should be legalised Natalie Bennett (Green) – Cannabis should be legalised Nick Clegg (Lib Dem) – You should earn £12,500 before paying any tax Ed Miliband (Lab) - raise minimum wage to £8ph by 2020 David Cameron (Cons) - no out-of-work household should claim more in benefits than the average family earns in work

4. General Election 2015General Election 2015: North East Bedfordshire PartyCandidate LabourSaqhib Ali ConservativeAlistair Burt Liberal DemocratPeter Morris UKIPAdrianne Smyth GreenMark Bowler

5. GENERAL ELECTION 2015 – THE FACTS 1.When is the General Election this year? 2.How many MPs are we voting for overall? How big is a constituency? How can vote? 3.What is a ‘manifesto’? 4.What electoral system do we use currently in this country? 5.How many MPs must be elected for a party to win an overall majority? 6.What is a coalition?

6. BIBLICAL REFERENCES TO CONSIDER: Every government is put in place by God. John 19:11, Romans 13:1, Psalm 22:28, Proverbs 8:15. We should honour and submit to those who govern us. Mark 12:17, Romans 13:1-4, 1 Peter 2:13 -17, Titus 3:1. We should pay what is due and right to authorities. Romans 13:6 -7, Luke 20:25. We need wisdom as well as information in making in our decisions. James 1:5, 1 Corinthians 14:40

7. We are to be salt and light in our world for Christ. Matthew 5:13 -16. We are to speak up and stand up for justice, the poor, the disenfranchised, the marginalised. Micah 6:8; Proverbs 31:8-9, Isaiah 1:17, Zechariah 7:9-10. We are to speak up and stand up for God’s laws and standards and seek to vote for those who will represent us in government in doing this (choosing representatives with integrity). 1 Corinthians 16:13, Philippians 1:27, Proverbs 10:9, 12:22, 19:1

8. Millions of women either died, were beaten and imprisoned and force-fed to get women the right to vote. Not to mention the millions of men who protested or died getting it in the first place.

9. We live in a democratic society. Millions worldwide are still fighting for it (like in Hong Kong)

10. In theory, your single vote could potentially swing an election It does happen!

11. Whoever wins this election could determine if we go to war against ISIS, stay in the EU or raise/abolish tuition fees.

12. PRAY I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.’ 1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NIV). As Christians it is vital that we underpin all that we do and say with prayer. Pray for the safety of volunteers. Pray for Christian believers in positions of authority. Remember the media, including the ‘digital media’. Ask God to watch over party leaders. Pray for Christian candidates. Pray for a good turnout on Polling Day. AFTER: Pray for the Queen and all the newly elected MPs.

13. “[Not voting] is like going into Nando’s, asking someone else to put in your order and then you get something you don’t want. If you don’t vote, you’ll get a kind of government you don’t want so get stuck in there and vote.”

14. THURSDAY MAY 7 th MAKE SURE YOU VOTE!