Some years ago, I recall waking up the day after a UK General Election and feeling deflated after learning that the Conservatives had won. I could have just as easily felt similarly following Thursday’s General Election, which resulted this time in a Labour victory, albeit as predicted, and an emphatic one at that.

What has changed? What is the story so far? What can one make of it? What might happen next? What ought to happen next? What business does a “gospel preaching, community activist, watchman on the wall” have dwelling on such questions? For my responses to these and other pertinent questions then read on and, if you haven’t done so already, go to my blog and check out my previous writings on the UK General Election 2024, with its particular slant on what is happening in my home city: Southend-on-Sea.

As for the story so far, even the BBC provides a pretty fair account. As for surprises, these were relatively few. The polls, especially the exit polls, told us there would be a Labour landslide and there would be a Conservative meltdown, with the likes of LibDems, Greens and Reform getting a healthy vote share that in the case of Greens and Reform could only be translated into a handful of seats, which if true would beg the question more so than previously concerning the need for electoral reform toward a fairer system. What was predicted came to pass with only minor deviations and we have a government many more people voted against and did not want than voted for.

As for my own highlights, the following spring to mind:

• Two new Labour MPs in my staunch, hitherto Tory, city, Southend-on-Sea, along with disappointment that the Confelicity and Heritage candidates received too few votes
• Liz Truss and Jacob Rees Mogg, two Tories I had some time for, losing their seats
• Jeremy Corbyn, ousted from Labour as part of a clear out the lefties campaign, returning as an Independent MP
• George Galloway, after a resounding win for his Workers party in the recent by-election, losing his seat
• The unusual composition of the new Parliament as an indication of what we might expect in times to come, especially in the light of challenges most do not have solutions for
• (As predicted) the greater discrepancy between vote and seat share than that seen in previous elections, with Labour benefiting massively and Greens and especially Reform losing out
• LibDems and Greens doing particularly well in terms of votes but the surprise package, Reform, continuing to be a formidable force despite winning only 5 seats
• The most honourable man in the old UK Parliament, Andrew Brigden, losing his seat
• (As predicted) a sense of foreboding that the new UK Parliament is dominated by those with a wrong ideology and not prepared to recognize many of the truly important issues facing the country
• Yet the Lord is good and for those whose ideology is gospel based this could be their finest hour

The prospect of a Starmer government with a massive majority to do what he wants is not a prospect I relish for reasons including those given below. One of the many things that did it for me was Starmer chiding Boris for not being strict enough with Covid lockdowns and penalising those who spoke against the fake vaccine. While many are waking up to who really runs the world and pulls politicians’ strings, as evidenced by the growing populist movements across the world, many more need to do so in the UK, including Christian leaders, to address the issues that I raised in my first General Election blog.

One bright spot in this election cycle just gone is that the churches have led the way engaging with those wanting our votes, e.g. organising hustings, and my hope in the aftermath of the election, whether or not they share my concerns, they will make those elected accountable and speak out for truth and justice.

Many of my Christian friends who are into issues to do with social justice like the idea of a Labour government, especially as there has been an increase in the suffering of the more vulnerable members of society under the last Conservative government and who have lost confidence in the Tories to improve lives. But it should always be borne in mind Labour are far from having an overall majority when it comes to people voting for them. It is ironic that the number of those voting Labour in 2024 when they won by a landslide was LESS than in 2019 when the Conservatives won by a landslide.

They got in largely because the opposition vote was split. Now they are in, they do well to remember what happened after Boris’ Tories were returned in a landslide. It is notable that the lower (60%) voter turnout compared to 67% in 2019, is indicative that while Labour won fair and square (although it appeared that Labour were better placed pushing their propaganda that the other parties) those who did vote were more interested in keeping Conservatives out than getting Labour in with many people (a number of whom I spoke with on the subject) torn to know who to vote for if voting at all.

Other Christian friends see it as I do and many societal problems existed under Labour and some were made worse, e.g. as a result of immigration. Some feel betrayed having felt let down having voted Conservative last time to get Brexit done etc., with their hopes dashed of what could/should be under a succession of Prime Ministers (Boris, Liz, Rishi) and Covid, but do not relish the prospect of a Labour government. Moreover, they see this new government playing into the hands of the globalists and their nefarious Great Reset agenda quicker than would be the case under Sunak, who would be more likely to be opposed within if he tried. While Starmer has taken a leaf out of Barrack Obama’s and Tony Blair’s book when it comes to pushing for change, some would argue overall that changes made by them were in line with the globalist elite’s agenda and not for the better and would not be this time.

The result serves as a spur to me regarding my calling as a gospel preaching, community activist, watchman on the wall, and that has to continue. I take as my role model the example of Jeremiah the prophet who in the time of the last four kings of Judah, all of which were wicked, would tell folk that contrary to popular opinion that things were going to get worse, and all this was part of God’s judgment, but they needed to hang in and obey those put over them, even if not what they wanted, and to do what was right and just. He would also point to God’s love, mercy and faithfulness. A similar message applies now, although our first call is to be obedient to God, followed by praying for our leaders, whatever we think of them.

Since I serve a God who works in mysterious and wondrous ways, while I see dark days ahead on many fronts, whilst under a godless government, an even weaker leadership and a largely inept opposition, I expect this will cause people to wake up to tyranny, wokeism and no common sense and in many cases them turning to God and His Christ as their only hope, even if Christ followers have to meet outside churches, given that real Christians will be targeted as seen as at the forefront of the opposition, yet confident God wins.