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Ethics line for voters

Rachel Sylvester
Saturday 17 April 1999 23:02 BST
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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."

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