Ethics line for voters
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.VOTERS WILL be able to phone a new "ethical hotline" to find out what politicians think on issues such as abortion, euthanasia and genetically modified food, writes Rachel Sylvester.
The Movement for Christian Democracy, a pressure group headed by the anti-abortion campaigner Lord Alton, is compiling a morality dossier on each candidate for next month's European elections. It has sent them all a questionnaire asking what they think about a range of issues and, in the run-up to election day, voters will be invited to phone a special number to find out the views of the candidate in their constituency.
The strategy is the first step of a wider ethical audit of politicians. The Movement for Christian Democracy is planning to set up a similar hotline at the next general election.
The move will increase pressure on mainstream politicians, who are already conscious of allegations of "sleaze". The Movement for Christian Democracy is also planning to publish an "ethical manifesto" emphasising policy areas which are traditionally ignored by the main political parties.
The questionnaire asks what they think about food, euthanasia, adoption, cloning, Third World debt and whether they would like a European-wide embargo on the sale of arms to oppressive regimes. It also seeks their opinions on the European single currency and the role of the Brussels institutions.
Jonathan Bartley, general secretary of the MCD, said the aim was to turn the spotlight on ethical issues. "This will help voters to see what lies behind the parties and candidates," he said. "Most importantly, it will help to cut through the rhetoric covering so much of the political debate surrounding Europe."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments