"There is a Christian Party – I like that!" This is good news. When Donald Dewar, the first First Minister of the reconstituted Scottish Parliament in 1999, launched the Scotland Bill in 1997 he announced: "There shall be a Scottish parliament," and added: "I like that!" Similarly, "There is a Christian Party – I like …
Brexit has (not yet) arrived
Today was meant to be Brexit Day. At 11 p.m., when this post is published, the UK was meant to leave the European Union – postponed for a third time. However, I hope that the end is in sight, now that a General Election has been called for 12 December 2019. Brexit 1 was 29 …
Representative democracy
Brexit has demonstrated the importance of voting for the person whom you want to represent you in the House of Commons. The current situation of a minority Government bound by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 has highlighted the following issues: Direct and Representative democracy Should an MP honour the wishes of the country in a …
The Christian Party
It will help people to understand our raison d’être and our philosophy if we begin with the basics. We are a political party registered with The Electoral Commission. We are not a church. We are a political party comprised of Christians, just as the Tory Party is a political party comprised of Tories. Not all …
Why we need Christian voices in public life
A "Christian Voice" is a Christian articulating a Christian perspective on issues. It is not enough to have a Christian perspective, but one needs to articulate it. The Scottish National Party measures everything in terms of Scotland, the feminists in terms of gender, the homosexuals in terms of sexuality, the Greens in terms of the …
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When did BBC Question Time last change your mind?
Does the BBC flagship programme Question Time change anyone's mind? The standard of debate on BBC Question Time is poor and getting worse. We were told years ago that we needed female politicians who would bring civilised debate to male-dominated politics. I never believed it and I have seen no evidence that it has done …
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Those who think that religion and politics do not mix
There are those who think that religion and politics don't mix. The truth is that their religion and their politics don't mix. However, Christianity and politics mix quite easily together, and it is Christianity which gave us western democracy as we understand it and delivered us from the irreligious dogmatism of the 16th-century by recovering …
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Ineffective deradicalisation programmes
The two London Bridge murders by a radicalised terrorist highlight the ineffectiveness of some prison deradicalisation programmes. Those jailed for islamic terrorism offences are reaching the end of their prison sentences, and their release from prison will test the rehabilitation programmes during their imprisonment. The current stabbings demonstrate that the value of human life was …
The BBC and the democratic deficit
Voters complain that they hear from would-be politicians only at election time. The fact is that most voters don't want to hear from would-be politicians at any time but only from those who are already in power or likely to be helped by their political party to gain power. The same is true of the …
Tactical voting
Tactical voting is of interest to the major parties because it maintains their dominance over the political scene. There is always ‘an issue’ at each election which the major parties use to persuade voters into voting tactically for them. This squeezes out the minor parties and this is seen in the UK and USA where …
Christian excuses
You know the phenomenon – someone promises you that they will do something and they don't. After a while you realise that it will not be done, possibly after several enquiries and further promises. First, there are the lame excuses, and then there is the justification, which does not stand up to examination. It would …
Christians and political party loyalty
Brexit has tested Westminster party loyalties to breaking point and it is testing the raison d’être of these parties. There is a realignment along Brexit lines and this General Election is clearly about Brexit – unless one is a Tory. Boris Johnson and the Tories are clearly fighting for their party rather than the country, …
Political statistics
The 2016 UK Referendum, whether to stay in the European Union, was the largest vote in UK history. 17.4 million people voted "Leave" and it seemed clear that Britain wanted to leave the EU and that this would happen. The tail wagging the dog However, we live in an era when the tail wags the …
Biblical repentance
Roman Catholic doctrine continues to be seen in the presbyterian practice of repentance. Whereas presbyterians may preach biblical repentance, some presbyterian procedures involve Roman Catholic penance in practice. Whereas preaching may not be legalistic, practice can be. It reminds us of the Saviour's warning to do as authorised officialdom says, but not to do as …
