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SCP to field candidate in General Election


The Scottish Christian Party is hoping to field a candidate in the forthcoming general election and a contest is to held in the early new year to select a candidate.



murdomurray smallA £30,000 campaign war chest has been promised to the Scottish Christian Party (SCP) candidate fighting the Western Isles constituency in the forthcoming general election. The party’s political candidate will be chosen in February after a US-style Open Primary contest open to all islanders.

This is thought to be just the second time the American system of allow all voters in an area to select a prospective candidate for an election in the UK. The first was in August when the Sarah Wollaston was picked to fight the Totnes seat for the 2010 general election for the Conservatives.

The candidate selection will be conducted by a secure internet vote and via a computerised telephone poll. The primary will be organised and controlled by the Electoral Reform Service though its £30,000 cost will be borne by the party.

Voting in the Primary will be between Thursday 21 January and Thursday 11 February 2010.

George HargreavesChristian Party leader Rev. George Hargreaves who stood in the Western Isles as a SCP candidate for the Western Isles at the last general election pledged the campaign cash saying: “We are in it to win it. “Whoever wins the prize will be well resourced.”

“The £30,000 campaign fund is the maximum allowed under the law and we are spending a similar amount on the Primary."

The successful candidate will have  a rented campaign office at his disposal in a prime spot in Cromwell Street in Stornoway town centre. The party plans to fight the SNP after blaming the Nationalists for launching a controversial Sabbath ferry into Lewis this summer while Sabbath trading is another issue troubling the party. Rev. Hargreaves has stated: 

 

“In 2010 and 2011 the Scottish Christian Party shall run election campaigns based on building on the strengths of the Western Isles, not destroying them. We intend to see the people of the Western Isles united behind it uniqueness, not divided by its diversity.”

 

Mr. Hargreaves also believes that the Calman report could benefit the Scottish islands. He said that the 10 pence (income) tax should be used to advantage for the Western Isles and peripheral islands to attract new business and attract population to the islands

The presence of the Scottish Christian Party in the Western Isles election fight could well upset the two-horse race between the SNP and Labour. It will also impact on any opportunity or desire that there might be for a local Christian to stand as an independent.

murdomurray small1In the 2007 elections for the Scottish Parliament Mr. Murdo Murray, a former Technical Director with Western Isles Council stood as a List Candidate for the SCP.

Mr. Murray participated in a recent on-line discussion regarding the Sunday sailing issue and the wider subject of Christian representation in the political process.

Audio iconIn the course of the discussion Christians Together interviewed Mr. Murray on a range of issues affecting the Western Isles. It is understood that Mr. Murray was not present at a recent public meeting in Stornoway hosted by Rev. Hargreaves.


Christians Together, 24/12/2009

Feedback:
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R. Ingside (Guest) 28/06/2013 20:23
Thanks, just a few more questions please;

1. Who are the leadership of SCP, and are they democratically elected?

2. Where does the funding come from?

3. What (if any) accountability exists within SCP?
R. Ingside (Guest) 28/06/2013 21:24
I did a search on the Electoral Commission's website looking for details on SCP, but kept drawing a blank, until I came across the article below!

Not very inspiring to see Christians and a Christian party behaving in such a manner, and also a contradiction to 'Proclaiming Christ's Lordship'! One would have thought that doing so would include, integrity, truth, transparency and honesty!

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-media/news-releases/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/electoral-commission-fines-former-treasurer-of-the-christian-party-proclaiming-christs-lordship

Electoral Commission fines former treasurer of the Christian Party “Proclaiming Christ’s Lordship”


14 Feb 2013


"Reverend George Hargreaves, former treasurer of the Christian Party “Proclaiming Christ’s Lordship”, has been fined £4,125 by the Electoral Commission, the independent party and election finance watchdog, for failing to provide the party’s 2011 accounts.

Reverend Hargreaves was fined £1,125 for failing to meet the deadline for delivering the accounts by 7 July 2012.

He was given a further, final opportunity to deliver the accounts by 16 January 2013. He did not meet this deadline so was fined a further £3,000. Reverend Hargreaves is no longer the registered treasurer of the party, but the fines are imposed on him rather than the party, as he was the treasurer of the party at the time.

Lisa Klein, Director of Party and Election Finance, said: “It is unacceptable for a party to participate in the democratic process whilst the treasurer of that party fails to abide by the law. People have a right to know how parties are funded and how they spend their money.”

The Commission is also currently taking legal action against Reverend Hargreaves to recover previous unpaid fines."

Ronald Perry (Guest) 29/06/2013 17:45
Christians stand bfore God. ARe you a Christian? Your questions come across like someone with a very wrong spirit.
R.Ingside (Guest) 29/06/2013 18:14
Mr Perry,

Not only am I a born again Christian, but also one who reads and takes seriously the contents of God's Holy Word The Bible. In doing so, not only am I accountable to fellow Christians and the Church, but I also expect other Christians to be the same.

The SCP, and other Christians who stand in the public arena, are, and should be open to scrutiny and accountability like anyone else in public life. If they are not, and not willing to be so, then as we see above the bring the rest of us and The Gospel into disrepute!
R. Ingside (Guest) 29/06/2013 18:39
Just in case the SCP, or anyone else would dispute mutual accountability, let us consider what the Holy Bible says!

What does the bible say about holding each other to account?

http://www.openbible.info/topics/holding_each_other_accountable
Editor 30/06/2013 19:20
R. Ingside, Given that you are a Christian please make yourself known to me. Thank you.
R. Ingside (Guest) 30/06/2013 20:38
In what way?
Editor 01/07/2013 12:53
"In what way?"
Just drop me an e-mail with your name and e-mail address.
Thanks.
PS It also saves cluttering up discussions with one-to-one messages.
R. Ingside (Guest) 01/07/2013 13:03
Why?
Editor 01/07/2013 14:35
"Why?"

To reiterate: "to save cluttering up discussions with one-to-one messages."
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Christians Together in the Highlands and Islands > Archive > Around the Region > Western Isles > SCP to field candidate in General Election