Should I Vote for Pamela Nash – Labour?

Earlier today I had the privilege of spending some time with Pamela Nash the Labour candidate for Airdrie and Shotts. She was accompanied by Councillor Tommy Morgan who is an elected representative on North Lanarkshire Council. Pamela began by telling me that she is fully committed to ‘Labour Values’ and to the Labour Party manifesto upon which she is standing. We then went on to discuss the same three issues that I discussed with the other candidates. So let’s begin at the beginning.

Sanctity of Life – We began by talking about the ‘Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act’ which the current Labour government passed. I explained that there were a number of aspects of this Act that were of great concern to me, namely (i) the legalisation of human – animal embryos (ii) the legalisation of the creation of ‘saviour siblings’ and (iii) the abolition of the ‘need for a father’ consideration before commencing IVF treatment. I asked Pamela if she could share her thoughts on these issues. Pamela indicated that she was supportive of the Act because it would further the reach of science in our society. She expressed some initial concern at the ‘animal-human’ embryo’s’ but was reassured to know that these embryos would be destroyed within 14 days of creation. She felt that this meant that the needs of science could be catered for adequately.

We then went on to talk about her views on abortion and I asked her how she would vote were the question of reducing the gestational limit for abortion to a level below 24 weeks put in parliament. She indicated that she would be supportive of a reduction in the limit to 18-20 weeks. On the issue of the morning after pill being issued in schools, Pamela was supportive of the government ensuring that the morning after pill was available in schools for pupils who wanted it and was of the view that this did not need parental consent.

We very briefly spoke about assisted suicide and Pamela acknowledged that this was indeed a complex area. She felt that it was appropriate for a terminally ill person to be helped to die, though she was uncomfortable with provisions which would extend this to people who were not terminally ill and yet experiencing intolerable health issues. Using the example of the current bill passing through the Scottish Parliament, Pamela indicated that she would be unlikely to be able to support such a bill because of the width of the provisions it contained.

Sanctity of Marriage – We discussed a number of issues concerning marriage and family. I asked Pamela if, given that ‘Civil Partnerships’ were now on the statute book, she would be supportive of this being upgraded to a ‘full marriage’ for same sex unions. Pamela indicated that she was fully supportive of same sex unions being given full marriage status. She also indicated that she was also fully supportive of same sex partners being given the right to adopt and foster despite the implications of this for faith based fostering and adoption agencies.

We also discussed sex education in schools and Pamela indicated that she was fully supportive of the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ in schools. She said that the use of the word ‘promotion’ was rather unfortunate as what she thought this education should involve was the teaching that homosexuality was an absolutely normal and appropriate sexual choice for people to make.

I also asked her about the ‘free speech’ provisions that were inserted in to the ‘Incitement to homophobic hatred’ laws by the House of Lords. The Lords had to insert that clause three times before the Commons accepted it. However, it is Labour Party policy to try and repeal that free speech clause and if the Lords try and insert it again, then to use the Parliament Act to force it through. We used an example to work it through. I said that my view was that God had ordained that sexual activity should only take place between one man and one women bound together in marriage and that all sexual activity that took place out with this was sinful and wrong. I said that based on this I did not think that homosexual practice was normal or right. I asked Pamela’s views on how far my freedom to express that view should extend. Pamela felt that I should be free to express that view in my own home and also to express it from a church pulpit. However she felt that should such a view be expressed in the street, in the context of open air preaching, then it might be appropriate for this to constitute an offence.

Religious Liberty – We spoke about the Equality Act 2006 and 2010 and Pamela indicated that there were a number of provisions which were concerning. She felt that faith based groups should be able to employ people on the basis of their commitment to the beliefs, ethos and values of that faith community which this Act has eroded.

Finally we discussed the Westminster Declaration 2010 pledge to, “respect, uphold and protect the right of Christians to hold and express Christian beliefs and act according to Christian conscience.” Pamela indicated that she would not be able to make this pledge. There were two reasons why Pamela held this view. Firstly, her pledge to the people of Airdrie and Shotts was the pledge to uphold Labour values and deliver the Labour manifesto. She felt this was the key pledge that she wished to make. Secondly, Pamela was of the view that it was wrong to make such a pledge for one religion, when there are many in our society of other religions and none. Accordingly, Pamela was unable to make the pledge to “respect, uphold and protect the right of Christians to hold and express Christian beliefs and act according to Christian conscience.”

I would like to express my sincere thanks to Pamela Nash for taking time out of her busy schedule to spend time chatting through these issues with me. It is greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank Cllr Tommy Morgan for arranging the meeting.

So there you have it, the view from Pamela Nash! So far we have had contact with all of the main the parties; an email from the Conservative candidate and meetings with the Lib Dem, SNP and Labour candidates. We have one final candidate to meet with and he is the Independent candidate John McGeechan. I’ll be seeing him tonight so check out the blog even though it’s the weekend for the final installment.