Tag: Politics

Kate Forbes, the SNP and should politicians keep their religion private?

Kate Forbes has for some time been talked of as a potential successor to Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland.  However, she has a problem, something that might hinder her progress, either barrign her from leadership or losing her the next major election.  What is the skeleton in her closet? Is it a sex-scandal or a dodgy… Continue reading Kate Forbes, the SNP and should politicians keep their religion private?

What did the Unions ever do for us?

This is a question I’ve seen asked a few times over the past few weeks as rail, mail and NHS strikes have started to bite.  The response from those supporting/defending union action has been to argue that Unions and Strike action have played a significant role in labour reforms in the UK including better pay/conditions,… Continue reading What did the Unions ever do for us?

Why we don’t want to weaponise prayer

The other day, I wrote about the lady who was arrested for silently praying outside an abortion clinic.  Some commentary made it sound as though a random person, simply passing by and praying had been arrested for a one off, incidental event.  The reality was that their arrest followed a series of actions on their… Continue reading Why we don’t want to weaponise prayer

What is the preacher meant to do … and how should we introduce them?

The other day, I wrote about one of my bugbears which is the way in which sometimes preachers are introduced as being about to explain God’s Word.  You can read here why I don’t like that phrase. This prompted the legitimate question “then how should the service leader introduce the speaker?” My answer would be… Continue reading What is the preacher meant to do … and how should we introduce them?

No, the Supreme Court’s decision on a Scottish Independence referendum did not mark the death of democracy.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to call another referendum on independence. Obviously, the SNP and their supporters are upset and disappointed by this. They have every right to campaign for independence and wanted the opportunity for a new vote. I’m not sure that they’ve got reason… Continue reading No, the Supreme Court’s decision on a Scottish Independence referendum did not mark the death of democracy.

The nurses strike or Matt Hancock on I’m a Celebrity? When you don’t have to choose between two ethical issues

I saw this tweet the other day. It’s a classical example of poor reasoning and poor ethical thinking.  We sometimes refer to this as “Whataboutery.”  A person expresses an opinion on a moral issue.  They are then told that they should not be expressing views about that issue because issue x is far more egregious.… Continue reading The nurses strike or Matt Hancock on I’m a Celebrity? When you don’t have to choose between two ethical issues

House of Cards and a tragedy of mistaken heroes

Back when I was a student at University, anyone who was interested in politics and saw themselves as having a future in parliament was avidly studying the TV adaption of Michael Dodd’s House of Cards as diligently as they were paying attention to their actual subject. The protagonist in the original House of Cards is… Continue reading House of Cards and a tragedy of mistaken heroes

Responding to the Prime Minister’s resignation

Well another Prime Minister has gone. I just popped upstairs for a few minutes to wrap Sarah’s Birthday present and came back downstairs again to find it was all change. Here are a couple of initial thoughts. First that response of anger and sadness at the utter mess is right. The people harmed most by… Continue reading Responding to the Prime Minister’s resignation

Greed, taxes, values and vision

Yesterday I wrote about how Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng had got into trouble despite seemingly having a shared vision. To be absolutely clear, whilst I find politics and economics both very interesting discussions, my aim in that article and this isn’t to provoke debate on those two things but rather to try and suggest… Continue reading Greed, taxes, values and vision