No party may emerge from next Thursday’s British general election with a majority of MPs in the new House of Commons. The one with the largest number may first try to form a coalition or minority government, with the aid of the smaller parties. Given that such a government may depend for its survival on the support of a majority in the House of Commons, opportunities to influence its policies will abound. That influence should be directed first at alleviating the condition of those worst off in British society.  From the perspective of social justice – the gospel imperative – the Tories’ record in government raises serious issues. The fundamental problem is about the treatment of those at the bottom of the income ladder, those partly or wholly dependent on sta