From Politics to Pulpit

There was a time in my life when politics was one of my greatest interests. Throughout my teenage years and into my early twenties, I followed political events closely, read extensively about public policy, debated current affairs, and genuinely believed that politics was one of the most effective ways to improve society. I was not merely an observer; I became actively involved.

Over the years I was a member of both the Conservative Party and, later, the UK Independence Party (UKIP). Like many politically engaged young people, my views evolved over time, and I believed that joining political parties was the best way to influence the direction of the country.

Today, however, I no longer belong to any political party. I do not campaign for one, I do not vote, and I do not believe that any political party represents my convictions. This article explains why.

My Early Interest in Politics

Growing up, politics fascinated me. I enjoyed learning about British history, Parliament, elections, constitutional issues, economics, and Britain’s place in the world. Unlike many people my age, I paid close attention to party manifestos, speeches, and debates.

My first political home was the Conservative Party. At the time, I believed in many traditional conservative principles such as personal responsibility, fiscal prudence, supporting small businesses, and preserving national institutions.

As the debate surrounding Britain’s membership of the European Union intensified, however, my political priorities began to change. The question of sovereignty became increasingly important to me, and eventually I decided that UKIP better represented my views on Britain’s relationship with the European Union.

Joining UKIP

When I joined UKIP, the party was very different from the organisation that exists today.

The UKIP that attracted me was primarily focused on one defining issue: Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union. It promoted national sovereignty, democratic accountability, immigration control, and political reform. While it was certainly regarded as a right-wing party, its identity was overwhelmingly centred on Brexit rather than the broader ideological positions it has adopted in more recent years.

Many ordinary members joined UKIP because they believed decisions affecting Britain should be made by the British Parliament rather than European institutions. That was certainly my motivation.

Brexit was, without question, one of the principal reasons I became involved.

Standing as a Candidate

In 2017, I stood as a UKIP candidate in the Local Council Elections.

Although I received only 71 votes, I remain proud that I was willing to put myself before the electorate and participate in the democratic process. Standing as a candidate required commitment, resilience, and the willingness to defend my beliefs publicly.

Like many candidates in local elections, I knew victory was unlikely. My aim was to contribute to public debate and give local voters another choice at the ballot box.

Among my reasons for standing were: my support for Brexit, my belief that local democracy matters, a desire to encourage greater political participation and a belief that elected representatives should be accountable to local communities.

At that point in my life, I genuinely believed that political engagement could make a meaningful difference.

Brexit: A Promise That Failed

Looking back, Brexit is undoubtedly the issue on which my thinking has changed the most.

I supported Britain’s departure from the European Union because I believed it would lead to greater national independence, stronger democratic accountability, and new economic opportunities.

Unfortunately, the reality has fallen far short of those expectations. Rather than delivering clear economic benefits, Brexit has been accompanied by a range of significant challenges.

Many businesses that relied upon frictionless trade with Europe have faced increased customs procedures, additional paperwork, and higher operating costs. Small exporters have often been affected particularly badly because compliance costs represent a much greater proportion of their business.

Labour shortages emerged across several sectors, including agriculture, food production, hospitality, and transport. Although immigration policy was intended to become more controlled, many industries found themselves struggling to recruit sufficient workers. Far from reducing bureaucracy, many companies discovered they were dealing with more administrative complexity than before.

Economic growth has also been weaker than many Brexit supporters had anticipated. Numerous economists have concluded that Britain’s economy has grown more slowly than it otherwise might have done outside the additional trade barriers created by leaving the EU.

International investment has also become more cautious in some sectors due to uncertainty surrounding Britain’s long-term trading relationship with Europe.

Even politically, Brexit failed to bring the unity that many hoped for. Instead, it deepened divisions across the country, dominating public life for years and leaving lasting political bitterness.

While reasonable people can disagree about Brexit, my own conclusion is that it has not delivered the benefits I once hoped it would. I no longer believe that leaving the European Union has produced a better outcome for the United Kingdom.

Changing one’s mind in light of experience is not weakness; it is an acknowledgement that reality sometimes differs from expectation.

The Transformation of UKIP

My departure from politics was influenced not only by Brexit but also by the dramatic transformation of UKIP itself. The party I joined no longer exists in any meaningful sense.

I left UKIP in 2018 following comments made by its then leader, Neil Hamilton, in which he stated that Enoch Powell had been right about immigration. Those remarks were fundamentally at odds with my own values and convictions, and I felt I could not remain a member of a party whose leadership was prepared to make such statements.

At the time, I wrote to the party explaining that my personal beliefs did not align with Mr Hamilton’s comments. In my letter, I urged him to reconsider his remarks, acknowledge the offence they had caused, and issue a public apology.

I made it clear that I regarded Enoch Powell’s views on immigration, particularly those associated with his infamous “Rivers of Blood” speech, as deeply offensive and racist. I also explained that I believed it was wrong for any political leader to endorse or legitimise such views. Unfortunately, the response I received from the party failed to address or acknowledge these concerns, particularly my condemnation of Powell’s remarks as racist and deeply offensive.

As a matter of principle, I concluded that I could no longer support or remain a member of UKIP, and I therefore resigned my membership.

During my membership, UKIP was primarily known as a right-wing Eurosceptic party whose central objective was leaving the European Union.

Following Brexit, however, UKIP lost the issue around which it had been built. Over time, its priorities changed dramatically.

Today, UKIP presents itself in ways that I fundamentally disagree with. It has adopted positions that are widely characterised as far-right populist, and it increasingly promotes forms of Christian nationalism that seek to intertwine a particular vision of Christianity with national identity and political power. I reject both of those directions completely.

My Christian faith is deeply important to me, but I do not believe Christianity should be used as a political ideology or employed as a tool for partisan mobilisation. The Christian message is centred upon the gospel of Jesus Christ, not political power.

Likewise, I reject the style of populist politics that seeks to divide society into simplistic categories of “the people” versus “the elite” while reducing complex issues to slogans and cultural conflict.

The UKIP of today is not the party I joined, and it certainly is not a party I could support.

Why I Left Politics Altogether

As I grew older, I became increasingly disillusioned with party politics in general.

This disillusionment extends far beyond one political party. Over time I came to realise that every major political party contains ideas and policies that I cannot support. Some align with my views on particular issues while simultaneously promoting policies I strongly oppose.

As a result, I reached the conclusion that no political party adequately represents my beliefs. That is why I no longer belong to any political party. It is also why I no longer vote.

Some people will disagree with that decision. They argue that voting is a civic duty or that choosing the “least bad” option is preferable to abstaining. I respect that view, but it is not one I share.

For me, casting a vote is an endorsement. If I cannot honestly support a party’s overall principles, policies, and direction, then I cannot in good conscience vote for it simply because it appears marginally preferable to another.

I would rather refrain from voting than lend my support to positions that I do not believe are right.

Looking Beyond Politics

Leaving politics has allowed me to focus my time and energy elsewhere.

Rather than investing my life in political campaigns, elections, and party membership, I now devote far more attention to my Christian faith, Bible study, writing, and other personal pursuits.

Politics certainly influences society, but I have come to believe that lasting change begins with individuals, families, communities, and moral character rather than party manifestos alone.

My priorities today are very different from those I held as a young political activist.

Final Thoughts

I do not regret becoming involved in politics during my younger years. Those experiences taught me valuable lessons about democracy, public service, campaigning, and the importance of engaging seriously with public affairs.

Standing as a UKIP candidate in the 2017 local elections was part of that journey, as was my support for Brexit. Looking back, however, my views have changed considerably. I no longer believe Brexit delivered what was promised, and I fundamentally disagree with the direction UKIP has taken since leaving the European Union.

More broadly, I no longer identify with party politics at all.

Today I support no political party, belong to none, and do not vote because I believe no existing party adequately represents my convictions.

People are free to agree or disagree with that decision. My purpose is not to persuade others to make the same choice but simply to explain how my own thinking has changed.

Politics once occupied a significant place in my life. Today, it does not. That chapter has closed, and I have moved on with different priorities, different convictions, and a different understanding of where lasting hope is found.