Scottish Christian Party

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Dr Donald Boyd

Prospective parliamentary candidate for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey UK Parliamentary constituency in the General Election on Thursday 6th May 2010.

Click here for Donald's Leaflet.

Donald has lived in Inverness and its environs since 1980 and has been acquainted with the Highlands from his childhood.

He is a medical doctor and, although he is a GP, his face may be more familiar to you from Raigmore Hospital where he has mainly worked since 2000, or from Street Pastors where he helps out each month in the city centre or Merkinch. To this local knowledge, his interest in British and world history adds an international and historical perspective to his assessment of the needs of Britain at several levels of society.

Donald is concerned at the marginalising of Christian values in public life, and the open hostility to the practice of Christianity. He believes it is Christianity which made Britain Great, and the fragmentation of our society is because of the decline in practical Christianity. "I challenge someone to mention one thing which unites British society at present - not even a common language unites us," he says. This is even more true of the European Union. Although Donald has a keen interest in languages, with a mother who is a native Gaelic speaker, he understands that the ordinary British citizen is unable to follow what happens in Europe - they only feel the adverse effects of European laws made by faceless bureaucrats whose languages they do not even understand.

Donald thinks that the recent equality legislation will divide society further as different groups clamour for their rights to be paramount. He looks to the lessons of British history which led to the establishment of parliamentary democracy, the clarifying of the relationship of Church and state through Scottish Covenanting times and the 19th century Disruption. These lessons are being forgotten by our surveillance society, spying on its citizens instead of promoting neighbourliness through gracious influence. He looks in vain for parliamentarians "to fix broken Britain" with the Christian courage of William Wilberforce, who abolished the slave trade against powerful vested interests.

Vigor, Vision and Voice

Donald believes the nation needs to hear a distinctive Christian Voice in Parliament and so he has been persuaded to stand in this election. He says that he is "in it to win it" as Danny Alexander is simply a mouthpiece for the Liberal-Democratic Party's 'not so liberal' agenda. The people of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey need an MP who does more than reiterate party policy. The Scottish Christian Party comes with a new vigor, vision and voice which the country needs to hear. Donald wants to be part of that vision and victory.

Donald is the founder and current chairman of the Inverness branch of the Scottish Christian Party. He has campaigned for Christian issues for decades, but he began campaigning with the Scottish Christian Party in 2007 in order to fight the Holyrood Election in that year. He was appointed campaign manager for the Highlands and Islands in that election, and in less than four months of organising and campaigning, the Scottish Christian Party in the Highlands and Islands came from a standing start to overtake ten other parties, all in existence for a longer period of time.

He is married with four adult children and lives in Westhill, Inverness.

Calling for more Christian candidates

"If a trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for the battle?" 1Cor 14:8.

In the approaching General Election, announced for 6th May 2010, many Christians feel disenfranchised as they cannot conscientiously vote for any of the major parties. But it does not have to be that way!

What does it take to have a Christian Party candidate in your Parliamentary constituency? Not much.

1. First, you need one Christian prepared to put his/her name as a candidate on the ballot paper with (Scottish) Christian Party “Proclaiming Christ’s Lordship” beside their name. I count this an honour and I hope you would too.

2. Ten people on the Electoral Roll for that constituency - who will sign the nomination paper for this candidate, and one to act as Election Agent.

3. What does this cost? The deposit is £500, which will be recovered if the candidate gets more than 5% of the votes cast.

4. £500 = 10 Christians x£50 or 50 Christians x£10. If one divides by the five years of a parliamentary term this works out at £10/yr from 10 Christians for five years.

Are there ten such Christians in your constituency?

Abraham prayed for Sodom and he brought the number down from fifty to ten. The Lord matched him every step. When he got to ten, Abraham stopped. “And Abraham said, perhaps ten shall be found there? And He said, I will not destroy it for the sake of ten” Gen 18:32. Abraham thought that he had done enough - but he had not!

Do you not have ten in your constituency who will act?

Possibly not: “And I sought for a man among them, that should repair the hedge, and stand in the gap: but I found none” Ezk 22:30.

Will you be disenfranchised just because no-one would put their name on the ballot paper?

Objection 1: But I don’t know how to campaign?

You don’t have to. Let me allay your fears. Paper candidates don’t usually campaign. What is a paper candidate?

In 2009 there was a by-election in the Inverness West Ward. The Labour and Conservative Parties each had a candidate on the ballot paper. However they did not expect to win. So their candidates put in very little effort. There were hardly any posters on lamp-posts and there were no candidates at any of the three Polling Stations on voting day. This is a paper candidacy: putting your name on the ballot paper so that people can vote for you although you do not campaign.

Objection 2: What's the point in a paper candidate?

It gives you someone to vote for - instead of abstaining. If we have enough such candidates, the Christian public will begin to see that it can be done. "Yes, we can!" The politicians will then begin to speak about those issues we care about.

Objection 3: the media will ask me questions that I cannot answer.

1. The media don’t usually bother with minor parties. It takes politicians all their time to get the media to pay attention to them. You will not be the centre of attention unless you are able to draw attention to yourself.

2. Politicians set their own agenda. The major parties have set out their stall and it does not include the things of major concern to Christians, such as interfering with the declaration of the Gospel and living according to Christ's commandments.

3. When people ask what you are standing for, you simply mention the things which concern you! Is this difficult? Is it not good to have a platform on which to articulate the things which concern Christians?

Anything more than this is an extra. A welcome extra – but extra. Such as:

1. Producing a leaflet with your photograph and bullet point issues.

2. Handing them out to as many people as you can meet: this is a golden opportunity for Christian outreach and you will have some interesting conversations. Is this not what Christians want?

So what should you do? Visit the Christian Party website to register your interest and download the forms. If you do it this way you may even find that the deposit is paid for you.

Every blessing!

"And Jesus said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." Luke 18:27.

Below are candidates in previous elections. The Inverness branch of the Scottish Christian Party is building up experience and expertise in fighting elections, having fought the Holyrood Election in 2007, the European Election and a Highland Council by-election in 2009 and now the General Election.

Dr Sheila McLaughlan

Candidate for Highland Council - Inverness West Ward By-election on Thursday 23/4/2009.

Sheila lives in Scorguie. She has been in Inverness for 30 years where she brought up five children, many foster children, and is a happy grandmother of 13 grandchildren. Not surprisingly, Sheila has a lot of experience with troubled teenagers and she helps many of them with their court appearance. She has first hand experience of the need for role models for young people and will work in the Council to bridge the gap between children leaving care and developing independence and maturity, which will benefit them and the whole community in which they live.

She is a prison counsellor and has been a welfare adviser with the police. She works with divorcees, the families of the bereaved. Sheila was the manager of the Homeless Shelter in Waterloo Place in 2000. She wants more openness in the Council and a better use of public money.

Sheila is a frequent guest speaker at various functions. She says: “Living in Scorguie I share your concerns. After a lifetime of helping people, I am keen to use this experience to serve you in the Highland Council to the very best of my capacity."

Sheila intends to visit as many homes in the Ward as possible before Polling day. Why not phone Sheila to discuss your concerns? You can contact her at 01463 236029 or by email at docshe@hotmail.co.uk if you have a question.

Click here for Sheila's Leaflet.

Helpers

Anyone who would like to help in the campaign can contact Dr Donald Boyd on 01463 796952.

If you would like to make a donation to the campaign click here for a Donation Form (pdf)

Below are the candidates in the previous Scottish Parliamentary Election held on 3/5/2007.

Murdo Murray

First on the Highland Regional List

Murdo is a consultant engineer, and a former Technical Director of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Western Isles Council.

He said: "I am standing because I feel that this is what the Lord has for me at this time. There is a real need for a God honouring, self-sufficient, sustainable strategy for peripheral areas in the Highland and Islands."

Mr Murray, whose wife runs a bed and breakfast in Lewis, revealed that another reason why he felt that it was the Lord's will for him to stand was because the Sexual Equality Regulations would exclude Christians from offering vital services in the Highlands and Islands.

At a press conference held at the County Hotel, in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis - that started with prayer - Scottish Christian Party leader, the Rev. George Hargreaves, announced Mr Murray's candidacy to the media. Mr Hargreaves stated, "The Scottish Christian Party's Highland and Islands Regional campaign starts now." He confirmed reports that the Scottish Christian Party would not be contesting the constituency seat in the Western Isles.

Mr Murray told the press conference that he intended to visit every home in the Western Isles to listen to the islanders' concerns and views and to ask for their Regional vote next May.

Referring to the fact that the Scottish Christian Party will be fielding candidates in all eight Scottish Parliamentary regions, and by God's grace and providence expects to win more than one seat, the Rev. Hargreaves added, "I believe that Murdo Murray will be the first Scottish Christian Party MSP returned to Holyrood. The one thing that might prevent that is the late arrival of the helicopter carrying the ballot boxes from Barra."

Click here for our Highland Leaflet about Murdo Murray.

Rev Sandy Shaw

Second on the Highland Regional List

Rev Sandy Shaw was born and brought up in Perth, attending the North Church and gaining The Queen's Badge in the Boys' Brigade. He attended Perth Academy and went on to Edinburgh University, graduating M.A. and B.D. During these years, he was very involved in sport, captaining the College hockey and soccer teams, and has maintained a degree of fitness by continuing to run.

He served 23 years in the Ministry of the Church of Scotland, firstly in Cowdenbeath, a mining community, and then at Ardclach and Auldearn in rural Nairnshire.

Since 1992, he has been Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, served 10 years on the Children's Panel in Highland Region, and is a Chaplain at Nairn Academy and Inverness Prison. He broadcasts regularly on WSHO Radio, New Orleans, and he has made three visits in the past two years to speak and teach at Pastor's Seminars in Uganda and Kenya. He has led 12 Tours and Pilgrimages to Israel.

Sandy has been married for 38 years with two married sons and two granddaughters.

He has always had a keen interest in current affairs and values the opportunity to be a Christian Voice in Holyrood saying: "Many people across the Highlands and Islands are looking for a Christian, spiritual and moral lead. One vital task over these next weeks is to motivate and persuade such men and women to give their Regional Vote to the Scottish Christian Party where they know it will certainly not be a wasted vote."

Click here for Sandy Shaw's Leaflet.

Tom Forrest

Third on the Highland Regional List

Tom retired from HM Forces in 1993 after 23 years of service to his country.

Since retiring he has assisted his wife Liz in running the family B&B at Cromasaig, Kinlochewe. Tom's daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons farm in Zambia, and his son is currently 'having a year out' travelling the world with his fiancée.

He is a dedicated family man and as such has become increasingly saddened by what he sees as Government-sponsored erosion of family values and feels that the majority of the British public feel disenfranchised by the political choice currently on offer. To this end he wholeheartedly endorses the aims and objectives of the Scottish Christian Party and says: "If elected, I will endeavour to re-establish the basic time-honoured moral values common to all religions of the world and I will serve people of all faiths or none."

For the past nine years Tom has served as a Community Councillor, and he has been Vice Chairman of the Torridon and Kinlochewe Community Council for the last four years. He also has past experience as a Special Constable with Northern Constabulary.

Tom has been actively campaigning in Wester Ross and he has put up a poster at the highest point on the road network in Britain; symbolising the Scottish Christian Party reaching for the top. Click here for Tom's Leaflet.

Les Turner

Fourth on the Highland Regional List

I was brought up in Nitshill, Glasgow. I graduated in Geography and then qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

I spent some years in Hong Kong where I met my wife Diana. I spent most of my working life in economic development travelling widely in the Highlands and Islands, and I am well acquainted with the difficulties of living and working in remote areas.

I am particularly interested in transport, economic and mental health issues. I believe the very foundations of society are being eroded by secular atheism. The Bible is God's rule for successful living, and personal experience tells me there are consequences of getting out of balance with this.

The full list of our Regional Candidates was:-

1. Murdo Murray (Western Isles)

2. Sandy Shaw (Nairn)

3. Tom Forrest (Wester Ross)

4. Les Turner (Inverness)

5. Jessie Cormack (Caithness)

6. Angus Ross (Orkney)

7. Andrew Shearer (Shetland)

8. Susan Wallace (Fort William)

9. Tony Bond (Lochinver)

10. Barrie Cormack (Caithness)

11. David Forbes (Farr)

12. Donald John Morrison (Inverness)

Jessie Cormack

"I retired from the Civil Service after 32 years service.

I live with my twin sister in Wick and attend the Harbour Mission.

I am concerned with the downgrading of family life and Christian values in society."

Andrew Shearer

Andrew Shearer originally hails from Caithness.

He has taught Religious Education for 21 years in Easter Ross and presently he is a Principal Teacher in a Shetland Secondary School.

Andrew comments: "In these two short decades I have seen a marked decline in both an awareness of Bible truths among young people, and an increasing articulation of atheistic beliefs even before they come into contact with secondary education. Education is never neutral. If a void has occurred through neglect of Christian belief and morality in schools, then something will fill this void - this has been secular, non-religious materialism."

He has a supportive wife, Jackie, and five children aged 9 to 22 years old. For both Biblical and moral reasons Andrew and Jackie have taught their children at home for the last 10 years.

Susan Wallace

Susan says: "My husband Eric and I were both born and raised in Fort William, where we have lived and worked all our lives. We have two grown up, married children who left the area for a time and have now returned and settled here. My husband has been in business locally for about thirty years."

"I was a school secretary for seventeen years and for the past five years I have been a volunteer Ambulance Car Driver, travelling all over Scotland and the north of England."

"I believe that as a political Party, and as individuals, we should work without fear of opposition or failure - honouring God, showing courtesy to our colleagues and applying biblical principles to every aspect of political life in Scotland. We seek to have a government in our land today conscious of its accountability to God - personally and corporately - in every decision it makes and every law it passes; politicians committed to leading in the Lord's strength and not their own."

Barrie Cormack

"I live in Wick. I worked in the local Motor Taxation office for 17 years. After this I was self-employed running a baby boutique. For the next 19 years I ran a B & B establishment until I retired in 2005. I attend the Harbour Mission in Wick.”

David Forbes

David is a Chartered accountant by profession but has been lecturing and undertaking research in University since 1992.

Taking a career break from 2000 to 2005 he worked as Finance Director/Secretary with two different indigenous medical missionary organisations in India.

In the summer of 2007 he plans, along with his wife and 4 school-age children, to be on the move again as he joins a Christian charity in the North of Scotland.

David says: "Our legislators have had a field day for too long with only the tabloid press to comment on their excesses. Where the majority of Scots obtain their information, from the newspapers and television, the Christian viewpoint is noticeable by its absence. The honour of God's name, His standards and promises are not being heard as headlines; and they should be."

Donald John Morrison

Donald John Morrison was born and brought up on the island of Scalpay, in the Outer Hebrides. He is married to Heidi from Holland. For over five years he was employed as a Development Officer with Harris Development Ltd., set up to generate and promote economic development throughout Harris. During his time with the Company he spearheaded the success of many community projects and local initiatives. He was the driving force behind many successful fund-raising campaigns, managing to raise over £1.5million from the public and private sector for worthy causes.

In 2000 he resigned his post and followed the Lord's calling to train for missionary work. He spent three years in theological and pastoral studies at the London Theological Seminary .

Donald John is currently employed as a Home Mission Worker with the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) and is based in Inverness. His work of personal evangelism and gospel outreach takes him to different parts of Scotland and overseas, and he is often seen on the streets of Inverness engaging in open-air preaching.

"I am absolutely delighted," said Donald, "that a Christian Party is standing at the forth-coming election. For a long time Scotland has been at a cross-roads and seems to me going nowhere. This once God-fearing nation has largely forgotten God and it has trampled the Bible 'the Truth' under its feet. We have thrown God out of our homes, out of our schools, out of our courts, and out of our lives...it would appear that we have banished Him out of everything. We have disregarded His Ten Commandments and scoffed at everything the Cross of Calvary represents. The name of Jesus Christ, the glorious Saviour of hell-deserving sinners, is used only in contempt and as a swear word. We have called what is evil good, and what is good evil."

He went on: "We don't have to be very clever to see that we are suffering the consequences as a nation. Sadly, we are reaping what we've sown. In God's grace and mercy we hope that a new and blessed chapter will be written in Scotland's history after 3rd May when the Scottish Christian Party candidates are voted in. A Christian Party, with Christian voices, will, I wholly believe, set a precedent in our Scottish Parliament, which is bound to have a lasting effect, for good, upon the people and nation of Scotland. 'Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.' I would encourage every voter to put their X ... beside the cross on the 3rd of May. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain."

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A Christian Voice in Holyrood

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