Religious debate dominates by-election

By Ian Dunt

Religious issues have begun to dominate the by-election campaign in Glasgow North, with the Scottish National party (SNP) candidate’s membership of Catholic group Opus Dei taking centre stage.
 
David Kerr, a former BBC journalist, admitted being a member of Opus Dei recently, but has made several statements assuring voters religion will play no part in the campaign.
 
But Labour’s justice spokesman, Richard Baker, told the Sunday Times Mr Kerr’s religion would disconcert voters.
 
“There has been a lot of coverage about Opus Dei… and I’m sure it will be a cause for people to have questions about Mr Kerr’s views,” he said.
 
That view was contradicted by Labour’s Glasgow North candidate Willie Bain.
 
“Religion should play no part in this by-election…it does not matter what religion or religious organisation a candidate is in,” he said.

“I pledge never to make religion an issue in this campaign and hope nobody else does either.”

Mr Kerr highlighted the disparity between the comments this morning, saying: “Modern Scotland and Scottish political parties encompass people of all faiths and none.
 
“My faith is a personal matter, and religion has no part to play in this or any other campaign.
 
“The Labour candidate Willie Bain agrees with that, yet Labour’s justice spokesperson has sought to make it an issue in the by-election as indeed has the Tory deputy leader.
 
“These Labour and Tory spokespeople have a lot of explaining to do about what
they are actually saying. Labour are obviously in disarray, but that is no excuse for seeking to bring issues of religion into political campaigning.”
 
The Glasgow North by-election will not take place until after the parliamentary recess, leaving candidates at least five months until they go to the polls.