I switched on the wireless yesterday and it was all Alex Salmond. One commentator recalled a colleague saying that days like today are ‘good trade’. But you could say that about Scottish politics in general over the past few months. I like to ‘keep up with things’ but the papers have had more of my attention lately along with the news media in general.
It’s not entirely surprising that Alex Salmond has launched a new political party. (He would probably object to me referring to it as ‘his’ party.). The rumours have been a gathering drum roll for some time. An interviewee on BBC Radio 4 who is a member of the new Alba Party insisted that this is a positive move to increase the pro-independence thrust in the Hollywood Parliament. That makes some sense but with many things that have emerged over the last few months it is difficult to accept that this is the only reason. Salmond’s experience of his former party and the damage he claims certain elements have sought to bring to him are a consideration. Is this pay-back time?
The Salmond factor will have a significant influence in the success or failure of the new party. How will the voters respond to a party led by a man who although not guilty of any criminal offence has conceded that on occasion his behaviour towards women has been inappropriate? He and others obviously believe that this will not have a major effect on voting intentions.
He would no doubt resist any comparison with Donald Trump but his ‘toxic male’ behaviour became an issue in the 2016 Presidential Election and yet he was elected. Voting analysis revealed that his star was surprisingly bright with white middle-class women. And of course more people actually voted for him in 2020.
So does the public really care about this kind of thing? Sexual behaviour generally deemed to be inappropriate in those in high office used to be regarded as a resignation issue and more time spent with the family. Admittedly what is deemed ‘inappropriate’ has shifted over the years and there is a greater tolerance even of marital infidelity. If someone is perceived to be doing a good job then what does it really matter? How far does personal morality affect a man’s or woman’s ability to render creditable service to his/her country?
As someone who seeks to approach public issues from a Christian perspective I have to bear in mind that we live in a fallen world, a world that despite its wonders and achievements is invariably in opposition to God. What that means at a personal level is that we are all prone to behaving in ways that violate the pattern established by God in His Word. Sometimes that can lead to criminal behaviour which will deserve a response in law. More generally we can all behave in ways that do not become a public issue but are damaging to others and damaging to ourselves in that we have set aside the values that flow from God. There may not be obvious harm done but at a spiritual level there is disturbance. And that matters.
Given our fallenness it is not surprising that the political life of nations is often messy with those in power less than moral paragons. That does not allow us to be negative or disparaging about politics and politicians. There is an absolute obligation in Scripture for followers of Jesus to pray for those ‘in authority’. No excuse, then, for anyone to regard political life as beneath contempt. It may be beyond us at times but the call to Christian citizenship involves a commitment to see Christian values established in every aspect of a society. It should never be forgotten that it was through the edicts of pagan kings that the exiled people of Judah were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and later the city itself.
So we will be voting again in five weeks time. I always say I am the man all the parties are after, the floating voter. At this point I have made up my mind about some things but not others. In the past I have described my attitude as holding my nose as I make my mark on the voting paper. It’s a good line but not perhaps in keeping with what I have been working out today. This time I will be praying as I make my mark that there will be a growing conviction of a declaration we find time and again in the Psalms:
‘The Lord is King!’
