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Moral issues sparks debate at hustings 3/5/11
The last public political hustings of the Western Isles elections saw a lively debate on moral issues at the Prayerwise hosted debate.
Last year’s independent Christian candidate Murdo Murray chaired the event with the four political candidates on the panel at the Stornoway Primary hall.
Conservative hopeful Charlie McGrigor, Lib Dem Peter Morrison, Labour’s Donald Crichton and SNP candidate Alasdair Allan reiterated their previously established stances on RET, air fares, wind farms and fuel prices.
But it was the moral and lifestyle topics which sparked the most interaction with the 65 or so strong audience, mostly the party faithful.
Charlie Mggrigor pointed out that while he was pro-
Donald Crichton is opposed. He said: “We shouldn’t be legislating for people to end their lives. I would be voting to improving life.“
Alasdair Allan felt it was a “very dangerous move which risked making many elderly people pressurised not to be a burden. Margo’s bill is flawed and I would be voting against it again.”
Peter Morrison is also against the idea: “It is incompatible with what were are as islanders and against our upbringing.”
Teenage pregnancy
With a high rate of teenage pregnancy should sex education in schools be advocating abstincey the panel were asked.
Donald Crichton questioned if schools were taking over too much of the role of parents in advising their children on such issues.
He added: “Abstinence will be the right course for young people and parents should be encouraging
Peter Morrison felt that such issues should be “largely dealt with in the home and not in school” where early intervention would pick up problems sooner.
Alasdair Allan said that “countries which teach less sex education in schools have high teenage pregnancy rates.”
Charlie McGrigor said there should be a focus on home and parental responsibility pressing the “message to children about the consequences and responsibilities f having a child at a young age.”
► B&B’s refusing homosexual couples
► Sabbath observance and sports centres