Our constitution should enable us to make controversial decisions that we don’t all agree on but are generally regarded as legitimate. For example, I passionately hate the Welfare Reform Act that brought in huge benefit cuts and the disastrous Universal Credit, but I accept that legislation’s …
Brexit
Church leaders’ letter to the new Prime Minister: a no-deal Brexit is gambling with the basic needs of our poorest citizens
An open letter to the new Prime Minister from leaders of 7 Christian denominations expresses concern that failing to agree a deal on Brexit will “hit those held back by poverty very hard indeed”. The Church leaders say they have been “compelled” to write to the new Prime Minister because of …
Turning up when it’s difficult
I have never approached the final few days of any election period without a clear idea in my head of how to vote. These European elections, taking place in such a particular and peculiar context, have proved challenging as we consider how we ought to engage. As Christians, how do we rise …
Why fair trade is in difficulty, and what we need to do
A personal response by Ruth Murray Traidcraft, the pioneering Fairtrade brand that brought us ‘campaign coffee’ and went on to develop huge range of Fairtrade products, has announced that it proposes to cease trading at the end of the year unless a solution can be found. Along with many others …
Living with contradictory convictions… and Brexit
Rachel Allison on David Davis's resignation, the future of Brexit and disagreeing well. This weekend has seen a big shift in not only our expectations for the England football team but also the final deal on Brexit. On Friday the cabinet met to settle their Brexit policy and formulate a …
Brexit Doom and Gloom?
Last week the Scottish Government released their Brexit impact report and it was a lot of doom and gloom. Perhaps this is understandable; the devolved nations have a unique relationship with the EU and will feel the effects of Brexit more acutely than England. …
Bamboozled by Brexit?
It was all going so well… Last week we saw quite a bit of movement on the issue of Brexit, after what appeared to be deadlock came a flurry of announcements of progress being made in many different areas. Firstly we found out that, for the first time since their introduction in 2014 all of the …
Does the EU want its cake, our cake, the morning croissant and afternoon tea?
As the Conservative Party conference rumbled on this week the European Parliament was discussing the future of the Brexit negotiations. The European Parliament voted to urge the EU not to open the next phase of Brexit talks until a ‘major breakthrough’ had been made in the current negotiations. …
After the Referendum – a recommitment to the Common Good
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8) This week the people of the UK have made the significant decision to leave the European Union. Across our communities, including in …
The EU referendum: responding in good faith?
In May 2015 the Conservative Party’s General Election manifesto contained a pledge to hold a referendum on whether the UK should stay in or leave the European Union. With their election victory this campaign pledge has become a reality and we now know that on the 23 June each of us will be asked to …