MSP critical of Church’s ‘nationalist opinions’

Reverend had said Westminster must OK second vote

The Church of Scotland has been accused of expressing “nationalist opinions”, after a senior figure told Theresa May to back a second independence referendum.

Murdo Fraser, the Conservative MSP and member of the Kirk, criticised the Rev Dr Richard Frazer’s assertion that it would be “wrong” for the Prime Minister to withhold consent for another vote on the constitution.

A vote will be held in the Scottish Parliament next week on the issue, following First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement on Monday that she wants to take Scots back to the ballot box between autumn 2018 and spring 2019.

Dr Frazer, convener of the Church of Scotland’s church and society council, said: “The First Minister has declared her intention to seek the authority for a referendum on Scottish independence.

“And with a majority of MSPs in favour of independence, it is likely that such a vote will be passed.

“The UK Parliament will have the final say on whether to grant the right to hold an independence referendum. It would be wrong if it was withheld.”

While he said the Kirk would remain neutral throughout any campaign over the constitution, Dr Frazer pointed out it was in favour of EU membership, adding there is “nothing inevitable” about another independence debate being “divisive and acrimonious”.

But Mr Fraser said it is “inexplicable” for a Christian organisation to be advocating another vote “given the bitterness and division caused in Scottish society by the last referendum”.

The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP said: “Rev Frazer is quite entitled to express Nationalist opinions on his own behalf, but in this case he is speaking on behalf of the whole Church of Scotland.

“When did the Church decide it was going to support the SNP position over a referendum? Was there a vote in the General Assembly? Were ordinary Kirk members, like me, ever consulted? Or is this another example of an out-of-elite at the top of the Kirk going their own way with no thought for the views of the membership?

“When we see political stances like this taken by the Kirk leadership, it is perhaps no surprise that its membership figures are in freefall, when many other churches are seeing growth.”

On Mr Fraser’s comments, Dr Frazer said the Church is “neutral on the question of Scottish independence”.

The Rev Dr Richard Frazer maintains the Church is “neutral on the question of Scottish independence”.