Category: Opinion

What next for Boris?

Yesterday evening, Boris Johnson survived a “No Confidence” vote from his own MPs by 211 votes to 148. This meant that 41% of his own MPs declared no confidence in him. However, in fact, he fare worse than that.  Between 160-170 MPs are on the government payroll as ministers/aides.  It’s possible that some of these… Continue reading What next for Boris?

Is the national Anthem a prayer and should we sing it in church?

Before we leave behind some of the questions that have arisen out of the Jubilee weekend, I’d like to talk about one more thing.  One suggestion made has been that we could at least sing the National Anthem in our church services because it is a prayer. In fact, I’ve seen it argued that this… Continue reading Is the national Anthem a prayer and should we sing it in church?

Why I won’t be celebrating Jubilee Sunday (if I can help it)

Yesterday, I began to talk about celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.  As promised, here’s why I don’t intend to make a big thing of the so called Jubilee Sunday.  The first thing to say is that my position doesn’t arise out of some passionate republicanism although my sympathies lie increasingly that way.  I’m inclined to… Continue reading Why I won’t be celebrating Jubilee Sunday (if I can help it)

Is the Queen a Christian?

This weekend marks the official celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.  A recent pastors’ discussion on Facebook was prompted by the question “How will you be marking Jubilee Sunday?”  My answer is that “I won’t”.  I’ll write a little bit more about that tomorrow.  Steve Kneale has written here explaining why he won’t.  Personally, I’ve… Continue reading Is the Queen a Christian?

A stupid and sickening response to the latest horrific shooting incident

This week brought the sad and horrific news of another terrible shooting at a High School in Texas with 19 children among those murdered. In the United States, there remains a strong pro-gun lobby and that includes many evangelical Christians.  This is seen by them as a freedom issue.  They rely on the second amendment… Continue reading A stupid and sickening response to the latest horrific shooting incident

My Prime Minister went to a party and all I got was this lousy windfall tax

You may have seen this headline on Wednesday morning. Now, there may be good reasons and bad reasons for introducing new taxes but surely doing so when it officially goes against your political instincts and possibly your economic judgement isn’t good at all. Cards on the table, my personal instincts are towards keeping the tax… Continue reading My Prime Minister went to a party and all I got was this lousy windfall tax

Why we cannot stay silent when antisemitism turns up in church

Another day and another church scandal relating to an evangelical leader drops into the mainstream news. As with the recent abuse scandals, the Stephen Sizer case has been rumbling away within conservative evangelical circles especially on social media and blogs.  Like with the other cases, the frustration felt by those who have been campaigning to… Continue reading Why we cannot stay silent when antisemitism turns up in church

Sturgeon, Sinn Fein and why an end to sectarianism is urgently needed

The image at the top of this article is one that will trouble many people.  It’s the image of Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister meeting with Michelle Collins, the leader of Sinn Fein.  Now in the years since the 1997 Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Fein have certainly had an image make over. However, it… Continue reading Sturgeon, Sinn Fein and why an end to sectarianism is urgently needed

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?