Pieces by James Mildred
Are you an extremist?
15 March 2024
This week in Parliament, the UK government has unveiled its updated definition of extremism. It is a response to the really troubling scenes we have seen in recent months, where openly antisemitic…
Gaza Debate Debacle was the worst of our politics. But there’s still hope
23 February 2024
What happened in the House of Commons during the afternoon of 21 February has been met with understandable shock and disappointment. Even if you’re not interested in politics, you’ll have picked up…
CARE Fact Check: Conversion Therapy Debate
8 December 2023
On Wednesday 6 December, a debate took place in Westminster Hall, with the following motion:
How the Autumn Statement exposed my selfishness
24 November 2023
This week saw the Autumn Statement in the House of Commons. CARE's James Mildred reflects on how the Statement exposed his own selfishness and explains some of the key biblical principles to…
Conversion Therapy Bill published – how bad is it?
21 November 2023
This week, a bill to ban conversion therapy has been introduced at First Reading in the Lords by Lib Dem Peer Baroness Burt. It’s likely that there will be a second reading…
Have the police lost the plot over prayer?
27 October 2023
One of the many troubling aspects of the current conflict in Israel and Gaza is the impact it’s had on the streets here in Britain. Since the terrorist group Hamas launched its…
How should we respond to the war in Israel and Gaza?
13 October 2023
The following article represents the views and thoughts of its author.
Is the conversion therapy ban dead in the water?
15 September 2023
It’s been called one of the most dangerous policy proposals ever announced by any UK government. Loved by some, feared by others. First promised in 2018, but as yet, undelivered.
The new thought police?
11 August 2023
In this week's long read, we ask what Biblical wisdom can be applied to "hate speech" Do you ever worry that your social media presence is being watched, monitored and could mean…
Coutts Bank, Nigel Farage and Free Speech
20 July 2023
This week saw Nigel Farage given an apology from the head of NatWest Banking Group after Coutts closed his account over his political views. In this long read, CARE's James Mildred explains…
How to be hopeful when your mortgage goes up
23 June 2023
It’s been called the ‘cruelest tax of them all’. When it goes up, it puts lives at risk and steals jobs and homes from hard working citizens. It eats into savings. Right…
Should abortion ever be a criminal offence?
15 June 2023
This week saw Carla Foster, a 44-year old mum of three sent to prison for illegally procuring an abortion. During the first covid-19 lockdown, she lied during her telemedicine consultation and the…
Analysis: sent to prison for having an abortion?
13 June 2023
What’s happened?
A response to Lord Carey on assisted suicide
1 June 2023
The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, has told MPs that legalising assisted suicide is "profoundly Christian". He wrote to them as the Health and Social Care Committee continues to take evidence…
Tim Keller: 1950 – 2023
19 May 2023
News that Tim Keller, author of The Reason for God and countless other books, has passed away feels like the ending of an era.
Will a robot take your job?
19 May 2023
This week, oil giant BP announced they were cutting 55,000 jobs by 2030. And the reason? A shift towards replacing humans with artificial intelligence (AI). It’s an example of what the former…
What are the government’s gambling reform plans?
27 April 2023
The government has just released its long-overdue gambling reform plans. A white paper on suggested new policies was announced in parliament on Thursday by Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer. Press reports had abounded…
Do you know what schools are teaching your children about gender?
31 March 2023
If you are a parent, imagine the following scenario. Let’s say your son has given some evidence of being distressed about their gender. He tells you he thinks he's a girl. You…
Will a Christian become First Minister of Scotland?
24 February 2023
DISCLAIMER: Please note that CARE is non-party political. We do not endorse or support any one political candidate over another. This article represents the views of its author and is not intended…
Thank God for Christian MPs
20 January 2023
At CARE, a considerable part of our work is to do with legislation. It’s nitty, gritty, technical stuff. There’s not only a whole language to learn (secondary legislation anyone? Order Papers?), but…
The change we really need in 2023
6 January 2023
This week we’ve heard from the Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party, Rishi Sunak and from the Leader of His Majesty’s Opposition and Labour Party Leader, Sir Keir Starmer. Both…
Qatar: should Christians boycott the World Cup?
25 November 2022
I still remember the first World Cup I watched. I was 11 years old, it was Japan 2002 and I distinctly recall watching David Beckham hammer home the penalty that saw England…
Rishi Sunak is a Hindu. Should that bother us?
28 October 2022
So, after failing to secure the leadership of the Conservative Party earlier this summer, Rishi Sunak is now the UK’s 57th Prime Minister. It is a remarkable turnaround. As my colleague Peter…
Conservative Party Conference: What should we make of Liz Truss’ speech?
7 October 2022
After a bruising week, on Wednesday, the new prime minister addressed the Conservative party conference. Having admitted in an interview last Sunday that she should have “laid the ground better”, Liz Truss…
The Billion Pound Drop — what’s going on?
30 September 2022
I was only a year old when Black Wednesday happened. Maybe you remember it better? It was on the 16th of September 1992 and the UK Government was forced to withdraw sterling…
Government has a moral duty to act over energy price cap
26 August 2022
Today the regulator of the energy market, Ofgem, released new information about the energy price cap. The headline news is that the typical household energy bill could reach £3,549 from 1 October.…
Looking ahead: Conversion Therapy Ban
25 August 2022
This is the third in our series looking ahead to a new Prime Minister from 5 September, a new government soon after and MPs and Peers coming back after summer recess. Read…
Looking Ahead: Online Safety and Free Speech
18 August 2022
We’re continuing our mini-series looking at the key challenges facing the new Prime Minister and the government from 5-6 September when Parliament returns.
Looking Ahead: Cost of Living
10 August 2022
On 5 September, the UK Parliament returns, and MPs and Peers will be back at work. We’ll also have a new Prime Minister and a new Government as well.
On this day 1834: The Slavery Abolition Act took effect
1 August 2022
On this day, 188 years ago, The Slavery Abolition Act finally took effect. It was the result of decades of persistent, patient, committed advocacy led by William Wilberforce. He and those who…
Pray for the next Prime Minister
14 July 2022
The contest to become the next PM continues. As followers of Jesus, it’s critical that we pray about this process (1 Timothy 2:1-2). The Prime Minister sets the tone for the work…
What have the leadership contenders said about Christianity?
13 July 2022
The contest to become the next leader of the Conservative Parliamentary Party and Prime Minister of the UK continues to gather pace. But have the candidates said about Christianity and their faith?…
Why MPs should speak against the Assisted Suicide Petition
1 July 2022
On Monday 4 July, in a Westminster Hall debate, MPs will debate a petition which calls on the UK Government to introduce assisted suicide legislation.
Roe v Wade: At Least America is Still Debating Abortion
24 June 2022
Today, we read some staggering news from the United States. Justices on the US Supreme Court handed down a majority (6-3) opinion which overturns Roe v Wade, the 1973 ruling that made…
UK church must wrestle with abortion
24 June 2022
Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Social Care released the latest abortion figures for England and Wales. In total, 214,869 abortions took place in 2021. This is the highest number…
Challenging abortion requires understanding factors behind it
6 May 2022
This week, a leaked document suggested the US Supreme Court will overturn Roe v Wade, the controversial 1973 ruling that made abortion a legal right.
What’s the Queen’s Speech all about?
3 May 2022
The Westminster Parliament has been officially ‘prorogued’ which is an old-fashioned term that means its come to an end.
Do new suicide statistics really suggest we should legalise assisted suicide?
21 April 2022
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released new figures on suicides among people diagnosed with severe health conditions. The key finding is that there’s an elevated risk of suicide one year…
What is the ‘public square’?
12 April 2022
It’s one of those classic phrases that organisations and individuals throw around all the time. ‘Let’s be in the public square’, they’ll say. ‘Let’s make sure we’re speaking into the public square’.…
5 ways online porn harms your child
16 March 2022
As a new generation grows up in a digital age, it remains incredibly easy for digitally literate children to access online porn. This challenge has only worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic, as…
Q&A: The Gender Recognition Act and Self ID
16 March 2022
In Scotland, the government has introduced a Bill that aims to change how a person can legally change gender. It's already promoted a strong backlash from campaigners. But what's being proposed and…
Parents and Grandparents welcome age checks for online porn
9 February 2022
On Safer Internet Day 2022, the UK Government said it would strengthen the Online Safety Bill to bring all pornographic websites into scope. A new legal requirement will mean porn sites will…
‘Party Gate’: how can we respond?
14 January 2022
Standards in public life matter. Those who occupy positions of power and authority carry a greater weight of responsibility to uphold those standards. Both of these statements should be uncontroversial. But when…
Discover 4 ways to engage with culture at a national level
26 November 2021
It’s the million-pound question. You’re in total agreement that Christians should engage with culture. But what you want to know is how? Here are four practical ways you can take action.
Nationality and Borders Bill: Firm but Not Fair.
17 November 2021
The UK Government has said that it’s new plan for Immigration which is now largely included in its Nationality and Borders Bill is ‘firm, but fair’.
How can we respond to 54 years of the Abortion Act and 9.7 million abortions?
28 October 2021
When you work in public policy at CARE, you get used to dealing with huge numbers. Whether it’s the estimated number of confirmed modern slavery victims, or the numbers of people in…
Peers should reject the Assisted Dying Bill
18 October 2021
You can watch the Assisted Dying Debate on the Parliament website.
Another assisted suicide bill — here’s what you can do
24 May 2021
Another assisted suicide Bill has been brought forward in the House of Lords by Baroness Meacher. It aims to change the law to mean patients with months left to live and a…
How do we respond to Richard Dawkins’ views on Down’s syndrome?
20 May 2021
Richard Dawkins has done it again. He’s gone and said something controversial.
The law must stop discriminating against people with Down’s syndrome — this case could change that
4 May 2021
A law that tells people with disabilities that their lives are not worth living should never have found its way onto the statute books. This case, challenging Britain's discriminatory abortion law, could…
Why all pregnant women should be concerned about a change to Britain’s abortion laws
9 April 2021
It’s no secret that the abortion lobby want to change our abortion laws in Britain. However, what many people don’t know is that the change they are seeking won’t just affect women…
Should we extend the ‘right to die’? A response to Peter Singer
9 April 2021
Pro euthanasia activist Peter Singer has written an article on extending ‘the right to die’. Citing countries like Canada, where assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia has been legal since 2016, and also…
Why decriminalising abortion will erase the humanity of preborn babies for good
23 March 2021
‘Abortion is the intentional killing of a human being.’
People with Down’s syndrome are telling us how our abortion laws make them feel. Let’s start listening.
19 March 2021
Today is World Down’s syndrome Day, and it couldn’t be a better time to build awareness around this subject.
Abortion up to Birth: The Next Goal for the Abortion Lobby?
5 March 2021
What do those campaigning for the decriminalisation of abortion really want? The answer is abortion available right up to birth for any and every circumstance.
The truth about Northern Ireland’s abortion law
22 January 2021
Last year, Westminster imposed new abortion laws on Northern Ireland, overturning the previous, life-protecting law and replacing it with laws even more extreme than in Great Britain.
Here’s how Sir Keir Starmer can put families first
11 January 2021
Writing for the Sunday Telegraph, Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, said he wanted Labour to 'be the party of the family'. He was sharply critical of the current…
Will you stand with us in 2021?
22 December 2020
The work of CARE depends entirely upon the generosity of our incredible supporters. Our mission is to bring a significant Christian influence to laws and policies that impact all our lives. We…
Christmas isn’t really cancelled
21 December 2020
By now you’ll know the Government has changed the law on what we’re allowed to do over Christmas. For all of us, December 25 will feel very different. Even if you’re still…
Was lockdown good or bad for marriages?
8 December 2020
Many of us have felt the effects of long days cooped up together with our families and housemates during lockdown. Shared workspaces (also known as the dining table); trying to source wildly-entertaining-yet-educational…
Any Further Delays to the Review of Gambling Laws Will Cost Lives
1 December 2020
In its 2019 General Election Manifest, the Conservatives promised to hold a review of the 2005 Gambling Act. This would be the first step towards changing the law. The promise of a…
In a world without abortion, how would society cope with all the extra lives?
24 November 2020
“Without easy access to abortion, society would not be able to cope with all the additional lives being born. There are already too many unwanted children in the UK, so without abortion…
5 Reasons Christians Should Influence Governments
18 November 2020
Rightly understood, I think the Bible teaches us that Christians should aim for a significant influence on government. In recent months, the obvious engagement of churches with media and through open letters…
Marie Stopes International Can Change Its Name, But It Can’t Erase The Past
17 November 2020
In the gospels, Jesus talked about how pointless it is to try and repair broken wine skins. His point was that the human heart needs something more radical than a superficial veneer…
Prosecuted for what you say in your own home?
28 October 2020
The Scottish Government wants to prosecute you for what you say in the privacy of your own home. That's the logical conclusion after the Cabinet Secretary for Justice appeared before the Justice…
He knows their names: 9.5 million lives never forgotten
27 October 2020
It's 53 years since the Abortion Act 1967 received Royal Assent and became law. 9.5 million abortions later, and it's easy to feel hopeless at how cheap life has become in our…
Euthanasia for children?
16 October 2020
Some of you might be able to stomach the idea of euthanasia for consenting adults. After all, an adult knows what he or she wants. And there’s the world of difference between…
What should we make of the British Medical Association Poll on Assisted Suicide?
13 October 2020
Last week, the British Medical Association (BMA) published the results of its poll of members’ views on assisted suicide. The survey was carried out in February this year and was conducted by…
Why marriage makes a more satisfying relationship
24 August 2020
What makes a satisfying relationship? A recent study sought to answer this question.
MP’s ‘four year’ prediction is a wake up call about assisted suicide
24 August 2020
“The experience of death is going to get more and more painful, contrary to what many people believe. The forthcoming euthanasia will make it more rather than less painful because it will…
10 essential pro life resources
14 August 2020
Want to engage in a loving and logical manner on the issue of abortion? Keen to equip yourself better on the Christian response to ethical issues like assisted suicide? Here are ten…
CARE’s View on the Scottish Hate Crime Bill
12 August 2020
There’s been considerable angst in Scotland over the Scottish Government’s new Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill. Introduced in the Parliament on 23rd of April, it’s been heavily criticised by lawyers,…
3 Reasons Why I’m a Pro-Life Woman
29 July 2020
Contrary to popular opinion, it’s possible to be a young woman who cares deeply about women’s equality, and yet also believe that abortion is morally unjust and fundamentally in opposition to this…
The Father Heart of God: Reflecting on abortion law in Northern Ireland
28 July 2020
“As a young woman, I felt deeply impacted by what happened on that day.”
No abortion amendments to the DAB and your help made all the difference
6 July 2020
It would be easy to miss the significance of what happened last night in the House of Commons in respect to the Domestic Abuse Bill. For one thing, a vital piece of…
Watch CARE’s response as Westminster imposes abortion laws on Northern Ireland
19 June 2020
On Wednesday, MPs at Westminster voted for the UK Government's Northern Ireland Abortion Regulations by 253 to 136. It followed an earlier vote on Monday when Members of the House of Lords…
Why is it important for Christians to engage in the public square?
10 June 2020
At CARE, we're passionate about seeing God's church confidently engaging in the public square.
How the coronavirus ruined my wedding
6 May 2020
Everything was going so well. We’d sorted out the venue, the caterers, the photographer and we’d booked the church for the service. We’d emailed invites to everyone (saving on paper costs and…
52 years of the Abortion Act
29 April 2020
It might have just passed you by. It’s not as if the mainstream media would cover it. Not the sort of thing you’d expect to see on the 6 o’clock or 10…
Abortion in Northern Ireland: How will the new law work?
31 March 2020
The Government have published their new legal framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland. But what exactly will this mean in practice?
Modern Slavery Act: five years on
26 March 2020
Today is the fifth anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act, a landmark piece of legislation which received Royal Assent on 26 March 2015.
Coronavirus: how to stay calm, connected and encouraged
18 March 2020
During this period of increased isolation, many of us will be wondering how we can continue connecting as church communities and stay strong together. As the anxiety and fear swells around us,…
Pro-choice tweet reveals truth about abortion debate
9 March 2020
When those with pro-choice beliefs are intellectually honest, a real conversation about abortion can begin, says CARE's Naomi Marsden.
Why the BMA should remain opposed to assisted suicide
11 February 2020
The British Medical Association (BMA) is currently consulting its members on the issue of assisted suicide and what the position of the BMA on the issue should be. The poll will close…
Canada is a showcase for the slippery slope of assisted suicide
29 January 2020
Canada has yet again demonstrated how so-called 'safeguards' around assisted suicide laws are incrementally eroded.
This Red Wednesday, let’s remember the importance of religious liberty
27 November 2019
If you walk the streets of London today, you may notice that notable landmarks are lit up in the colour red.
Understanding our opponents: what are the key arguments for assisted suicide?
28 October 2019
In any campaign, it is always important to properly understand the arguments advanced by those you oppose. In this three-part series, we’ll look at the main arguments put forward by advocates of…
What hope is there now for women and babies in Northern Ireland?
22 October 2019
Today, October 22, the law on abortion shifts dramatically in Northern Ireland. Like you, we are heartbroken by this news.
Concerning new abortion guidelines show little care for women
26 September 2019
New guidelines on termination of pregnancy, released today by NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), make concerning recommendations which potentially rush women through the abortion process.
Dutch Doctor case should scare us all
25 September 2019
In the Netherlands, debates about euthanasia have been going on since the 1970s. In 2002, euthanasia and physician assisted suicide were legalsied in specific circumstances. There’s been a few changes to the…
Northern Ireland is no longer safe for disabled people
6 September 2019
As of 22 October, unless the Northern Ireland Assembly reforms, the lives of preborn disabled people hang in the balance.
Is the Scottish Government paving the way to make buying sex illegal?
5 September 2019
On Tuesday, the Scottish Government announced its Programme for Government where it sets out its legislative agenda for 2019/20.
Problem gambling: a product of ideology?
4 September 2019
Yesterday the Select Committee on the Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry heard evidence about who should take responsibility for preventing problem gambling, and whether the existing legislation regulating the…
The threat to the value of life in NI has never been greater
8 August 2019
Unless the Northern Ireland Assembly is restored by 21 October 2019, an extreme abortion regime will be introduced in Northern Ireland, after MPs and Peers backed amendments which will introduce widespread access…
The birth rate is now the lowest since records began: what’s behind this trend?
6 August 2019
Last week the Office for National Statistics published the latest stats on birth rates in England and Wales. Their findings show that in 2018 the total fertility rate fell from 1.76 to…
A dark day for Northern Ireland on abortion
9 July 2019
Today MPs voted 332-99 in favour of an amendment which will radically alter Northern Ireland’s current law on abortion.
The risks of legalising assisted suicide are simply too great
4 July 2019
MPs will again debate assisted suicide today during a backbench business debate. The debate won’t change the law and there won’t be a vote, but it will provide an opportunity for the…
Are public attitudes to abortion really becoming more relaxed?
2 July 2019
Today on the Victoria Derbyshire show, the BBC claimed that attitudes to abortion are changing in Great Britain, citing You Gov polling that showed that 53% of the public want to see…
Let’s end the culture of silence in our churches over abortion
19 June 2019
A few years ago, my church ran a sermon series on the Ten Commandments. I’ve sat through many sermons on this topic before, but usually the commandment ‘you shall not kill’ is…