It appears that the BBC thinks its audience wants to watch the side of the head of its reporters. Tonight, BBC news showed its reporters in various poses. A prominent new pose is the reporter speaking well to the side of the camera so that viewers are looking at the side of their head. Why? …
Category: Behaviour
The SNP’s Scotland and slippery women
The SNP Government has published Scotland's Right to Choose. Possibly the inspiration comes from 'a woman's right to choose'. The Abortion Act 1967 was passed with assurances that 'social' abortion would not occur. More than 50 years later few people recall this and the debate is now about 'a woman's right to choose'. It has …
There is a Christian Party
"There is a Christian Party – I like that!" 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 that!" You can add …
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 …
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 …
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 officialdom says, but not to do as they …
Gather up the fragments that remain
Jesus said to His disciples: "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." John 6:12 Jesus said this after feeding 5,000 people on the Galilean hillside. He was teaching His disciples about more than being tidy. In this same chapter Jesus taught "I am the Bread of Life" Jn 6:35,48,51 and He gave …
The political left and right
It is common to hear commentators refer to the left and right in politics and it is a sure put-down to call someone far right or far left. Such terms mean something to the politically-minded but because many people are not political it is more helpful to use other, more exact descriptions. People have different …