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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.
 A £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.
 Christian 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.
 In 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.
 In 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.
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Christians Together, 24/12/2009
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Editor |
01/07/2013 15:08 |
"Why?"
To reiterate: "to save cluttering up discussions with one-to-one messages."
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R. Ingside (Guest) |
01/07/2013 18:04 |
No, why do you need additional information, other than what I have supplied? I thought that this was an open forum?
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W.R Ongside (Guest) |
01/07/2013 19:00 |
Go on R Ingside - give him your name - there's a good boxer
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John Miller |
03/07/2013 11:06 |
Ingside, Ongside whatever! If someone feels the need to conceal his/her identity so be it. However if I want to be taken seriously I feel that I have to identify myself without any obfuscation.
As we examine the contents of God's holy word we find that generally (not always)concealing a person's identity is for purposes that are less than admirable. That has been demonstrated in previous discussions on this forum.
Another point is that if someone criticises a fellow contributor from the anonymity of a nom-de-plume that criticism cannot be taken with any degree of seriousness.
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Editor |
03/07/2013 17:20 |
Thanks John. Open forums/fora have the problem - from time to time - with (anonymous) posters who have personal axes to grind. What is most disappointing (and a very bad witness) is when we find that such posts are from 'Christians'.
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P Carr (Guest) |
03/07/2013 23:01 |
"...personal axes to grind..."
So, exposing inconsistencies with a Christian leader of a Christian political party is grinding an axe?! Exposing the fact that the individual/party are 'Proclaiming Christ's Lordship', yet fined (and criticised) by the Electoral Commission for consistently not being transparent about party funds, is grinding an axe!
Grinding an axe by asking legitimate questions regarding party structure, leadership etc?!
Further more, my understanding of Christianity leaves me free to follow Christ and God's word, holistically not selectively. If that means upsetting the status quo, so be it :)
The use of pseudonymns seem to acceptable on many other forums, why not here?
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jack thomson (Guest) |
04/07/2013 08:48 |
Quote from R Ingside : 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!
Ah but, what if the 'Reverend' is a politician first and and (his own brand of unregenerate) Christian second ?
There's are a lot of (unregenerate) wolves in sheep's (born again) clothing out there - and Christ directs us to (look below the surface and) watch out for them.........
So watch out for wolves in sheep's clothing the true Christian must....despite the fact that, in doing so - and subsequently revealing so, his/her remarks might cause offence and be forthwith and hastily removed from a forum such as this. :)
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Editor |
04/07/2013 12:34 |
I have spoken this morning to Dr. Donald Boyd who heads up the Scottish Christian Party and to whom any concerns should rightly be addressed. In the first instance at a personal and individual level in line with the pattern outlined in Scripture.
It will be up to Dr. Boyd as to whether or not to respond in this (public) forum.
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P Carr (Guest) |
04/07/2013 13:21 |
Thank you.
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P Carr (Guest) |
04/07/2013 22:07 |
I for one would be interested to hear what the Scottish leader of the SCP has to say with regards the information from the Electoral Commission concerning Rev Hargreaves. However, as previous experience on CT has taght me, I won't be too disappointed if it is not forth coming!
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