Politicians

Welby to MPs: ‘Respect the vote of the people and unite our country’

By their 'indicative votes' ye shall know them. Last night MPs tried to determine what, if anything, they preferred to Theresa May's 'deal', and they said 'no' to everything. Motion (B) 'No deal' got 160 with 400 against; Motion (D)…

Bishop Steven Croft Lords ambition Brexit

Bishop says Brexit is marred by politicians’ personal ambition, and calls for ‘strong, compelling and united vision of the future’

March 1, 2019
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"My Lords, I always rise to speak in this Chamber with some fear and trepidation but never more so than today," confessed the Lord Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev'd…

Independent group selfie division defection

Defections, divisions, tribalism and schisms

February 21, 2019
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'What causes fights and quarrels among you?' asked James the brother of Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered abroad. And then he proceeds to answer his own question: Don’t…

Parliamentary prayers chaplain house of commons prayer

Parliamentary prayers give strength and instil humility: they impose nothing and exclude no one

January 21, 2019
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"If MPs don’t want to attend prayers, they wait outside for five minutes until they are over", tweeted Nadine Dorries MP, in response to those who are agitating anew for…

Bishop denounces Boris Johnson as an “amoral liar”

January 9, 2019
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It was a good lecture by the Bishop of Leeds, if a little long. Delivered to mark the centennial celebrations of Bradford Cathedral, he expounded some of the root causes…

jonathan aitken times credo pray for parliament

Rev’d Jonathan Aitken calls the nation to pray for Parliament

December 9, 2018
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From The Times' 'Credo' column yesterday, by the Rev'd Jonathan Aitken, reproduced here with permission: After a seismic week of political and constitutional upheavals at Westminster, might this be a…

sentamu brexit withdrawal agreement deal

Sentamu: ‘pure’ (‘real’/ ‘hard’) Brexit is “a childish dream”

December 3, 2018
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On the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, the Archbishop of Canterbury was asked about the disparity (/gulf) between the laity and clergy in the Church of England regarding the…

nick baines bishop eu speech british hopelessness

Bishop Nick Baines derides Brexit British hopelessness

July 25, 2018
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There's a lot of anxiety about. The torch which once lit our path is being extinguished. Our institutions and communities are beset with moral problems, dilemmas and quandaries. Our politics…

Jonathan Aitken with Thatcher Bishop of London

The Rev’d Jonathan Aitken – being ordained is like ‘a new life’

July 1, 2018
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Former Tory Cabinet minister, convicted perjurer and bankrupt the Rt Hon Jonathan Aitken MP is now the Rev'd Jonathan Aitken, deacon at St Matthews, Westminster, and chaplain to the Prison…

Mawer, Percy, and the See of Sheffield: what if Conservative politicians had supported Philip North?

September 25, 2017
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Sir Philip Mawer's report on the circumstances surrounding the nomination of Bishop Philip North to the See of Sheffield makes interesting reading, in particular what it means for the 'mutual…

If a bigot can’t be PM, why should one be allowed to become an MP?

September 7, 2017
397 Comments

Jacob Rees-Mogg walks into a TV studio. Grand Inquisitor Piers Torquemorgan has wheeled out his rack; his beatific assistant Susanna Reid has greased up the Judas cradle. Heresy is not…

Donald Trump is no neo-Nazi sympathiser: he’s just not a very good politician

August 17, 2017
175 Comments

This is a guest post by Martin Sewell, a retired solicitor. ______ When the USA elected Donald Trump to be their new President, it was, to a significant degree, because…

Nigel Farage slams Jesus for his “negative” Christmas message

December 26, 2016
484 Comments

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage has slammed Jesus for his "negative" Christmas message. The Son of God said the world is full of wolves in sheep's clothing, not to mention…

For unto us a child is born

December 24, 2016
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Christmas has become an annual sabbath; almost the only time of the year now when families come together, friends are remembered, and the ghosts of Christmases past are recalled, some…

The liberation of Aleppo? Pouring a sea of grey into buckets of black and white

December 13, 2016
359 Comments

Parliament debates the liberation of Aleppo today. Marvellous. That'll sort it all out. Or perhaps MPs won't quite debate the liberation of Aleppo, for Aleppo hasn't actually been liberated from…

Ukip would be safe, safer and safest with Suzanne Evans as leader

November 19, 2016
100 Comments

Ukip is about to choose a(nother) new leader. Will it be Suzanne Evans or Paul Nuttall? That's the choice (we can safely discount John Rees-Evans for.. all.. sorts.. of.. reasons..).…

Corbyn’s mission is Christian socialism – but the country will never vote for it

September 25, 2016
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"So enthused by @JeremyCorbyn4PM win today," tweeted the Rev'd Dr Giles Fraser, on hearing of the victorious re-election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party. "The world is…

May's 'one nation' mission: let's talk about white working-class boys

July 14, 2016
216 Comments

"But David’s true legacy is not about the economy, but about social justice," explained Theresa May in her first speech as Prime Minister. "David Cameron has led a 'one…

Theresa May could be poised for real political greatness

July 12, 2016
218 Comments

"Brexit means Brexit, and we're going to make a success of it," proclaimed Theresa May, just hours before she was unexpectedly declared the new leader of the Conservative Party,…

The destruction of Andrea Leadsom: is it no longer permissible to be proud of motherhood?

July 9, 2016
571 Comments

"I absolutely am a Christian and I am very proud of it," Conservative leadership candidate Andrea Leadsom told Channel 4 News. "And it absolutely acts in the background in…