Category: ethics

Do we need an emergency budget?

A lot of politicians – mainly opposition ones – have been calling urgently for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to deliver an emergency budget.  It’s barely a few months since Rishi Sunak delivered his budget so why do we need another one so soon after? Ostensibly, the reason is the dramatic change we are seeing… Continue reading Do we need an emergency budget?

How do we deal with the Cost of Living Crisis? Wrong answers only please.

There’s a trend on social media where someone asks a question and then invites people to give only wrong answers. The aim is to get the silliest response possible. It looked this week as though Conservative Government Minister Rachel Maclean thought she had been invited to participate in such a challenge. Maclean has managed to… Continue reading How do we deal with the Cost of Living Crisis? Wrong answers only please.

Does God allow lies sometimes?

I remember an ethics lecturer arguing that it could be okay to lie in particular circumstances.  The obvious ethical dilemma is the situation that people hiding Jews in the Second World War might have faced.  Do they tell the truth when questioned and risk the lives of those in their care? Or do they tell… Continue reading Does God allow lies sometimes?

Peter Leithart’s ethics

Writing about Leithart’s ethics may seem a futile exercise given that he declares himself to be “Against Ethics.”[1]  He is against ethics for two reasons.  Firstly, because as a discipline it privatises virtues, leading to individuals choosing morals “without mentioning God.”[2] Secondly, because Ethics as a theological discipline treats moral transformation as secondary; an implication… Continue reading Peter Leithart’s ethics

Resignation offers, integrity and grace

#Partygate and #Beergate continue to rumble on.  In latest developments, Labour leader Keir Starmer has said that he will resign if he is issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice fine for breeching covid regulations.  His supporters have suggested that this shows integrity and compares unfavourably with the way that the Prime Minister has refused to… Continue reading Resignation offers, integrity and grace

The problem of the non-voter

I thought I’d write a little bit more about the problem of the non-voter and who it is a problem for. My friend who is passionate that we all must vote shared this graphic with me as part of our conversation. This kind of graphic is often favoured by political parties when they are in… Continue reading The problem of the non-voter

The freedom to vote must include the freedom not to vote

Yesterday was the annual local elections day in Britain. This meant that across the country, a lot of local council seats were up for re-election. The day also saw the election of a new Northern Irish Assembly.  Turnout at these elections is traditionally low and has declined over the years, perhaps as a result of… Continue reading The freedom to vote must include the freedom not to vote

Postscript to my correspondence with Premier Christianity

A little update to the issue I raised with Premier Christianity about serious concerns a number of us have had about their editorial approach. You can read the letter I sent to Premier here. Today, I received this response. Dear Dave, Thank you for taking the time to email. As you quite rightly state below,… Continue reading Postscript to my correspondence with Premier Christianity

Pints, cake and retrospective justice

#Partygate is the scandal that keeps on giving.  In a bid to distract from their own troubles, the Tories have tried to put the focus on an incident during the local elections last year where Keir Starmer was videoed drinking beer in Durham.  Their claim is that the leader of the opposition was also in… Continue reading Pints, cake and retrospective justice