Just recently, Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice responded to comments from the Archbishop of York about Reform's immigration and deportation policy by saying the church should keep out of politics. That's a familiar refrain to me from earlier times as a graduate student. But I have to reject it (regardless of the particular issue) because politics has become so deeply enmeshed with ethics - and morals. Tice's plea becomes tantamount to saying the church should keep out of ethics. For any Abrahamic faith, even Anglicans, that is quite impossible.
First, a disclaimer - I do not mean I myself agree with Archbishop Cottrell (I'm not sure in fact). But that makes no difference to the general point.
I dare say many of those protestors who turned out on a damp Saturday afternoon to express their concern at the decline of Christianity in Britain (now one of the world's most godless societies, and would be even more so but for immigration) are sympathisers with Tice's Reform party. Indeed, I guess that if asked many would endorse his reply to Archbishop Cottrell. It is an example of the pervasive character of modern politics that by turning out to protest they demonstrate the futility of Tice's position. The 'Unite the Kingdom' rally had to be a politically relevant event - including with a virtual presence by Elon Musk. Thanks to the political issues around refugees and asylum, patriotism (which faces both ways thanks to economics), work opportunities, and freedom - with abortion liable to tag along on the ride - ethics and morals are inevitable attachments. The protestors might want to assert their British identity, but these issues will involve what that identity actually consists of.
Yet again I find myself an outsider looking on feuds I have no part in. But as an (amateur) philosopher ('lover of wisdom') have I any other way to follow that calling? Over and over again I suspect that if I were better known I would be looked upon as Socrates updated - that is, a public nuisance.