Doing God” in Number 10

British Prime Ministers, Religion, and Political Rhetoric

Bibliographic Data

ID6212686
AuthorsAndrew S Crines (0000-0002-6878-5030, University of Leeds, corresponding author), Kevin Theakston (University of Leeds, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume8
Issue1
Pages155-177
Publication date2015-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitics and Religion (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1755-0491 • E-ISSN: 1755-0483
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1755048315000036
OpenAlexW2093121651
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited35

This article analyses British prime ministers' use of religious language and their own religious beliefs in their political rhetoric. This is used to justify policy, support their ideological positions, present a public persona, and cultivate their personal ethical appeal and credibility as values-driven political leaders. The focus is on the use and the nature of the religious arguments of Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. As political leaders, British prime ministers are aware of the need to modify and tailor their language in response to changing audiences and contexts. “Doing God” is a difficult and risky rhetorical strategy for British prime ministers but it increasingly has the potential to yield political benefits

Appeal · Art · Credibility · Humanities · Ideology · Literature · Persona · Political communication · Political science · Politics · Prime (order theory · Rhetoric · Rhetorical question · Sociology · Theology · American Constitutional Law and Politics · Law · Philosophy · Political and Economic history of UK and US · Religion and Society Interactions

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