For Independence SNP Need 75% Support

Next time the SNP tell me that a good vote for this is a vote for Independence I'm going to point out that they'll be needing to ride at about 75% in the opinion polls to have that sort of success. Why?

Currently the SNP are sitting in the mid 30s in percentage terms in recent Scottish polls. But in today's Times to mark 10 years of devolution a Populus poll says that while 41% what more powers short of independence only 21% want Independence therefore at present one in three of the number who support* the SNP do not want Independence.

I'm waiting to hear how the SNP spin their way out of this set of polling results.

I'm also going to this point forward hold up any Nat who says "a vote for us is a vote for Independence" by naming and pointing them back to the stats under the header "A vote for the Nats is a 2/3 vote for Independence."

*Note the two in three is not even all SNP supporters as the Greens and Socialists will account for some of that number.

Why I Need to Still Go To Church

Yesterday I was reminiscing about myself on the day after the last Westminster General Election. Well with news coverage over recent days I've also been reminiscing about a different day from 2005, the day of my Parliamentary Candidates Development Day.



Looking at that group of four potential approved candidates now they included the PPC for the target West Coast seat Katy Gordon PPC for Glasgow North, the 'go to' Lib Dem blogger for many in the MacBloggosphere in myself and the minister of the moment Rev Scott Rennie. The group of four on that day was a group not backward in coming forward, some would think quite a feisty bunch, but the least 'feisty' of the lot would probably have been Scott.*



Basically a eruption of criticism has blown up about Scott's sexuality which has been known publicly for some years because he has been called democratically, and that decision upheld democratically, to a new charge, Queen's Cross Church, in Aberdeen. Let's get the democracy of the decision clear Presbyterians require a 2/3rds majority of the communicant voting members of a church to call a new minister to become their pastor; Scott comfortably acquired 86%. The Aberdeenshire Presbytery which is the group of all Ministers in that area then ratified that decision in January by 60 votes to 24. In both cases to have such levels of support any politician would be happy. So why is the issue still up in the air and unclear?



I know that Caron, Lallands Peat Warrior and MacNumpty have all written excellent pieces from different standpoints and I recommend once you get to the end of this piece to go and read them all. But I feel able to add a little something different to the story because apart from that day I share a lot in common with Scott.



Like him I was raised in what was at the time a conservative Presbyterian Church, indeed my father was an Elder and Boys Brigade Captain. Like him after coming to my own faith and being settled in it I had to come to terms with my own sexuality. Like him I also had major struggles coming to terms with that while in a very active role of serving God, him during his pastoral role in Brechin me during my stint as a missionary. However, unlike Scott my victory in personally finally overcoming that struggle hasn't led afterwards to such media glare when I later moved to a different job in the same 'industry'.


Caron in her post pointed out that Scott said that gay Christians could feel isolated from both communities -sometimes the Church couldn't handle people being gay, but also some elements of the gay community couldn't handle Christianity. This is not only true of the community but often of the inner struggle within the Christian themselves. I know I struggled with that issue myself from my mid teens through to my late 20s over a decade, so I don't expect the Church to totally come to terms with things overnight. Although they have had 2000 or so years to get to grips with these issues. Caron mentioned her friends in the Christian Union at University changing her attitudes because of their attitudes to her gay friends. Of the over 6 years I spent on committees in my first three years of University it was the CU I spent most time on committee, so you can imagine the struggle I was having.

All of these people saw a certain element of me. Each new committee had to write encouraging things they found about each other in a sort of Chinese whisper sheet, my were always very deeply thought out and far from twee or predictable and I hold a lot of their comments dear. But very few got to see or hear of the full struggle. Indeed I don't think I would have expressed it to them or other close Christian friends with quite this amount of candour back then. When I finally came out to my parents which I thought would be all the harder because of all the Christian faith and experience between the three of us I was dreading the day. In the end the words passed my lip in a matter of fact sort of way and after one maybe two questions there was acceptance, love and understanding in just the Christian way that Jesus himself would I'm certain have shown.

Those Christians who believe in predestination believe that our paths are mapped out by God before we are even born: whether we become a Christian and how we will live are predetermined. These people are possibly some of the most literal believers of the bible and most homophobic element of the church. Yet by their very adherence to that stance they are found wanting on the issue of gay Christians. They cannot judge on someone's personal confession and salvation through grace. Indeed the fact that it is grace by which we are saved is a whole other theological ball game.

On the other hand you have those who believe our salvation is through free will. Good sound liberal bunch. Yet even they acknowledge that someone cannot chose their sexuality. One of the churches I worked with employed an open gay, though celibate, man. Others have youth leaders who have had sex before marriage, elders who have cheated on their wives etc. One thing does hold dear, all Christians should be accepted as an sinner saved by grace. And who are we to judge which Levitican abomination is allowed to be done away with over another.

Pass me the prawn cocktail in your polyester/cotton Sunday best over your cotton and lycra underwear even if you and your wife haven't maintained your proscribed time apart sexually following her period and let Scott Rennie, his partner David, his ex-wife and daughter get on with their life.

Don't be Pharisees when it comes to ranking the laws as you see fit.

The only way for gay Christians to gain acceptance in the Church is to keep turning up and in the gay community to not deny our faith. Let's get one thing clear Scott Rennie is an excellent Pastor the people of Queen's Cross congregation don't care about anything much beyond that, just like his church in Brechin before that. People like him show that Christ accepts us as we are, time for the Church to be a little more Christ like.

My dear friend Caron called her post on this subject "Why I no longer go to church" I hope I have put out at least part of the counterpoint from an insider's perspective.

Update: There is now a Facebook group in Support of Scott Rennie, please join it.
Update 2: I have just read the comments about this story on the Pink News article. Sadly it confirms the paradox that gay Christian's face. I've posted this response there.

It was very said reading some of the comments on here as a gay community we have fought for inclusion for so long. However, someone from our community who is different in this case a Christian, and a minister to boot, who has come to terms with that position and is 'proud' to be both is getting knocked back by some.

For Scott, like myself, it is a paradox that as a gay Christian we are often not accepted by the Church and also not accepted by the gay community. Those who are out as gay Christians have if my experience is anything to go on come through a lot of hard times not just from the respective communities but from ourselves.

If anyone in any other profession was in danger of being dismissed because of his sexuality we would all be united and up in arms standing with them. But even though he is one of us in an organistaion that in many ways needs to change its view of us we don't give the same support. The church needs changing on its views on sexuality the best way for that to be done is from the inside.

*For the record all four were approved, though the one who now is seen as a little bit of new media expert in certain fields in the Scottish Party was told he needed a little bit more media training. (Best not tell Clifton Terrace or Cowley Street I might lose some street cred and/or access)

We are now in Election Year

Four years ago at this time I was just about dozing off after attending my first General Election count as candidate. Making my thanks and concession speech third at some point after the declaration at 1:45am. At a point which is now about a 5 minute walk from where I live.

Just before eaving Bathgate Leisure centre there was first a cheer from the SNP for one of their gains, followed swiftly by Lib Dems ones as we saw Jo Swinson take East Dunbartonshire. Then I retired to Caron's as we nervously waiting for results like Edinburgh South to role in. At some point Caron (who wasn't drinking unlike me) drove me home. I lay on the sofa watching the late results before my partner at the time came down and headed out out for work. I knew that the Northern Ireland results plus a few of the remote ones would be coming through in a few hours so now was the time four years ago to catch some sleep. After being awake for 30+ hours.

Therefore we are four years in from 05.05.05 there will be a Westminster General Election called in the next 12 months. Bet that for a prediction Nostrodamus.

Flu Watch Personal: 1

The Lib Dem sub agent for UK Ground Zero (Falkirk) of Mexican Swine flu, i.e. your good host has come down with the sniffles last night. However, I'm taking all the conflicting advise to heart.

For work I haf brought in tissues, I will be single using them (even though this is environmentally unsound), I waill continue to wash my hands regularly, and bin the tissues after each use.

I'm just as a risk assessor going to call facilites once they get in to enquire about some biohazzard tape to put around my desk's bin for the sake of the cleaners.

I would like to say that the lethargy I feel is not flu-like it is merely the normal level for a Wednesday morning after a few drinks et al the night before. And that the pain I'm feeling in my back is as a result of knocking myself on the bedside table last night.

La Lingua Franca pour Fiona

The Scottish Education Minister Fiona Hyslop has been accused of letting down Scotland's future. It was announced that one in five schools no longer offer German at Higher Level and one in then fail to provide students an option for higher French. 'Scotland the Brave' is failing to educate to take our place linguistically in a modern Europe.



Le ministre de l'éducation écossais Fiona Hyslop a été accusé de laisser vers le bas futur d'Ecosse. On lui a annoncé qu'un dans cinq écoles n'offrent plus l'Allemand à de plus haut niveau et un dans puis ne fournissent pas des étudiants une option pour un Français plus élevé. 'L'Ecosse le Courageux' n'instruit pas pour prendre notre endroit linguistiquement en Europe moderne.



Der schottische Bildungsminister Fiona Hyslop ist von die Zukunft von Schottland unten lassen beschuldigt worden. Es wurde verkündet, dass ein in fünf Schulen nicht mehr Deutsches an hochgradigem anbieten und eins in dann Kursteilnehmer eine Wahl für höhere Franzosen bereitstellen nicht können. 'Schottland das Tapfere' das erziehen nicht kann, um unser in ein modernes Europa linguistisch stattzufinden.



Regular readers and my SNP rival out here in Linlithgow Ms. Hyslop will probably be glad to hear that I will not continue to write ever paragraph alternatively in my schoolboy French then German. Nor was I going to carry on in my University business Spanish and the smattering of phrases in Italian, Scandinavian language, Dutch or Polish that I’ve assimilated through work in Edinburgh just didn’t cut the mustard*. However, a Government spokesperson yesterday said:

"Modern Languages are key to creating a more successful Scotland. The changes the Scottish Government is bringing in through Curriculum for Excellence reinforce the expectation that schools will offer a modern language by no later than Primary 6 anddeliver relevant language learning."

However, the failure to not sustain that choice of language learning to students at Higher level is startling. Questions most be asked about how a government with aspirations to have be a strong, innovative, independent nation within Scotland seems incapable of standing up for language learning at this level. The above statement is fine in encouraging language skills are available at a young age but fails to promise too maintain a choice in the major languages without potentially changing educational establishment or alternative means.

*Update: It has been pointed out by a work colleague that I omitted Portuguese from the above list of languages. Obrigado. Aceite minha desculpa.

May 1979 Meme

I see Iain Dale Tory Originals has a May 1979 Meme. So I thought I'd take part.

How old were you? Nine

What are your personal political memories, if you have any? Not so much the General election but the Euro election the following month was moving day for us. So we were off to the new house laying carpets and packing boxes at the old one etc. I was leaving the childhood home I'd grown up in as a toddler to the one where my widowed mother still lives.

Political Views Held? The only strong one I held was I wanted the Northern Ireland fighting to stop. A few years later I would definitely have seem

Where did you live? Bangor, North Down (the maverick constituency)

School/College/Workplace? Grange Park Primary

Favourite TV Programmes? Grange Hill for the link to my own school's name, Multi Coloured Swap Shop.

Favourite Band/Music/etc..? Wasn't into music back then, TOTP either clashed with piano lessons or Boys Brigade through most of my youth.

For Whom The Bell Tolls

After taking a week off work, during which time I also decided to take a wee rest from blogging, I see that today's papers sound the bell twice (at least) on the death throes of Labour. As the great-nephew of the undertaker who buried my paternal grandmother I think I may be well placed to look at this impending death.

First with the European Election looming* there is the bad news for Darling that just is the IMF predictions against him but also those of the European Commission. Following on from his shock prediction of the UK shrinking by only 0.9% by the end of the year (after a late autumnal harvest so we are told) the Commission has adjusted its EU growth prediction downwards from -2% to -4%. Their prediction for the UK would equate to a 3.5% contraction not the 0.9% boldly proclaimed from the ballot box last month. However, there is a little good news for Darling next year. Where he expects a 1.25% growth the Commission is also sees it in the black, though only by 0.1%. In other words despite what the Chancellor expects we'll not be heading out by the end of 2009 but just starting to peek out by the end of 2010.

Elsewhere in the Scotsman another nail appears to have been brewing in Scottish Labour since the death of Donald Dewar. In an extract printed from Hamish Macdonell's forthcoming book Uncharted Territory: The Story of Scottish Devolution 1999-2009 he points out that the anointing in 2000 of the successor to the initial First Minister was carried out at the wake in Kelvingrove Art Galleries when he says:

"with the Scottish Labour Party leaderless for more than a week, it was inevitable that the gathering would be used for political purposes too.

"By that time it had become clear that McConnell would be McLeish's only real challenger.McConnell worked the room as subtly as he could, in the circumstances, as did McLeish.

"The prime minister did not stay for long but the short time he was there was hugely significant.

"Word reached McLeish that the prime minister wanted to speak to him, and his wife Julie, before he left.

"McLeish was ushered forward, with Julie just behind. Blair shook McLeish by the right hand, put the other hand on his shoulder and spoke a few words before disappearing.

"McLeish's aides beamed. McConnell was at the other end of the room and the prime minister was gone. It was clear that, in that moment, the prime minister had anointed his choice as Scottish Labour leader and the man he favoured as Scotland's second first minister."

With the current squaring up of Blairites and Brownites on the national stage there is for Labour no arm from a kingmaker to be extended, but then the King though dead is just not yet been placed in a coffin. With Kinnock bigging up the BNP as there is nothing to big up in his own party that could fight off their worries, and with the head of the two camps still at logger heads where is the John Smith like steady hand and head. I for one don't see it.

Man the lifeboats and hoist the red flag!


*Register to vote by May 19th if you haven't already (that is my sub -agenty bit done for today).