A Thetford vicar has used strong words to voice concerns about outsiders being selected as 
parliamentary candidates in his constituency. He also accuses David Cameron of “arrogant interferenceâ€.
Canon Bob Baker makes no direct reference to Liz Truss, the Conservative candidate selected for South West Norfolk who will need all her inner strength and charm today when she faces a call for her deselection at Swaffham Conservative Club following revelations about an affair she had in the past.
He has written a letter to the Eastern Daily Press expressing his views about the kind of person who should represent his flock, with harsh words about the present MP Christopher Fraser:
“Theford voters need parliamentary candidates who live in Norfolk, care about Thetford and are willing to work hard for all their constituents.
“Gillian Shephard delivered on all three counts, Christopher Fraser on none. If the local Conservatives cannot find a candidate who meets these criteria, voters should look to another party. They would be wise to do that anyway if David Cameron’s arrogant interference in local matters is indicative of his kind of leadership.â€
I would like to ask Canon Baker if the same rule of law applies to vicars. Are only Norfolk vicars able to work with Norfolk parishoners? I have yet to meet a vicar who was born and bred on his home turf.
Interestingly, there is a report in Saturday’s Eastern Daily Press reporting on local people’s views – yet again – about Liz Truss, and not one of them cared about her previous indiscretion, preferring to judge her on her present life. The headline sums it up: “Verdict from the streets of Swaffham: It’s much a do about nothing.â€
I see the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham James, hails from Cornwall. I wonder if Canon Baker deems him unsuitable for this privileged ecclesiastical position because he was not Norfolk born and bred.
One wonders how in tune Canon Baker is with the views of local voters.
UPDATE 9pm: Canon Baker will no doubt be disappointed to learn that Liz survived attempts to deselect her, and a powerful speech by Baroness Shephard could have played a vital part, according to this Sky News report. Surely it’s now time to draw a line under this business and give the good people of Norfolk some peace, and let Liz get on with doing her job.
Have to disagree with your approach here, Ellee as the job of clergy is to interpret the Bible and lead his flock in faith not to represent his constituents in parliament. The two jobs do not compare. Canon Baker is not the representative of his congregation in heaven, and he does not pop down to London to see God and influence God’s judgement. But the Member of Parliament for Thetford does precisely that, ie. representing his constituents interests in the government of this country. The MP is the peoples voice in parliament but we can all pray to God. Clergy is there for guidance not representation. We represent ourselves as we can all speak to God. We gather and we pray in church but we don’t need to be in church for God to hear us. Yet we need an MP in parliament for Gordon Brown to hear the needs of the people they represent. And it is human nature (something clergy knows a lot about) that a person will fight harder for something they have a personal interest in, a personal investment, something that affects them. When you talk of a community and it’s people then when you are part of that you are talking about yourself. This time it’s personal!
I agree with Canon Baker and think it’s high time someone said that. It’s time we got away from professional politicians.
Philipa, Canon Baker is in Thetford to work with his flock and understand their needs, like an MP works with his constituents and future decision making for the country. Sure, the canon is not making laws on their behalf, but he is perhaps influencing people about their lives and future salvation, if you believe in that. And now he wants to influence their political beliefs.
Now that Liz has finally secured the backing of her Association, surely it is time to draw a line under this business.
I had a call from Radio5 Live this evening asking if I would take part in their late night show with Richard Bacon http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007lb08 on whether MPs who have had affairs should be elected.
“Is that the only question?” I asked.
“Well yes, that’s the gist of it,” the researcher replied.
I told her: “My view is that this has caused immense pain to Liz and surely it is a matter for her and her husband and if they can draw a line under it and move on, and the local people of Swaffham who were quoted in today’s paper can as well, then what is the problem?
“I am also sorry for the people of Swaffham who have not been portrayed in a very flattering light. I have lived and worked in Norfolk and know what a wonderful place it is. Some of my happiest days were spent there.”
The researcher told me she would let me know later if they wanted to include me on their show. I doubt my views were controversial enough.
Liz looked so happy and relieved on TV tonight when the result was announced, with 90% support of the meeting, according to one local member. I expect she will sleep well tonight, the first time for many weeks.
First, hello — Ian Dale sent me, and I’ll be putting this blog on my already morbidly obese daily reading list. 🙂
As for Canon Baker, he’s perfectly entitled to express his political views to anyone who cares to listen, but he shouldn’t cry foul when held to the same standards. You are well in order asking the question you did and I’d go further; does he submit to ecclesiastical and doctrinal authority or would that constitute Cameron-style “arrogant interference in local affairs”? Whether it is the CoE or the Conservative Party, I’d respectfully suggest that the true corruption is when folks decide they can just wipe their backsides on rules they find inconvenient.
Craig, welcome to my site. I don’t think most people held the same concerns about this issue as the media did. And yes, most people have a selective memory and disregard of rules when it suits them, though you expressed this more eloquently than me. 😉
I’m not disregarding rules when it suits me, I’m objecting to the rules and have done for a while, irrespective of Liz Truss and Canon whatsisname. I simply agree with the canon on this issue. Ellee, the canon doesn’t work with his flock in the same way an MP does as I previously explained. He just doesn’t. It’s a different job and I don’t see why that different job precludes him from expressing his opinion. As long as he doesn’t express that opinion in the pulpit that’s fine by me – he’s just a bloke and a voter. Your argument against him seems to rest on his job which is a deflection, a straw man or definist fallacy; just because both are in public service does not mean they do the same job or that the same criteria should apply to their selection for that job.
It’s great if you can get a local person to represent their home turf. This is not always possible, not should it be a core criterion. An MP – just like a member of the clergy – is doing a job of work and you want the best person to do that job.
Canon Baker should realise this and not throw bricks when he lives in a glass house himself.
Philipa@6:
But Canon Baker’s authority, it seems to me, rests entirely on his job — and it seems fair to me that when clerics want to insert themselves in matters secular, it is entirely fair to ask whether they hold themselves to the same standard of conduct. After all, Jesus had nothing complimentary to say about hypocrites who talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk.
I don’t see any contradiction between the three tests you quote from the Canon, and Liz Truss as the MP. He said:
“Theford voters need parliamentary candidates who
– live in Norfolk,
– care about Thetford
– are willing to work hard for all their constituents.
There’s nothing in the tests about being born locally, although I note that Gillian Shepherd *was* and Chris Fraser *wasn’t* though he lives locally.
I’d be pointing out that the Canon’s examples undermine his own criteria !
The EDP don’t carry letters on their public website (which is AWOL at the moment anyway), so I can’t check the whole thing.
Rgds
Not on message but further to your comment on vicars. In the RC Church, in the Diocese of East Anglia, there’s something of a drought as regards priests. People often point to the Diocese of Westminster which, they tell me, has more priests per head of population than anywhere in the world except Malta.
That’s a better photo than the one on Con Home where her bra strap’s showing
‘@Craig Ranapia – I agree with your point and it is a good point. There is a tension.