The Sabbath Observance Committee has written to the main political parties asking them, in view of the forthcoming General Election, to supply details of what their policies on Sabbath issues are likely to be. In particular, we stated to each of the Parties, “One particular problem we see in this area is the pressure that can be put on employees to work against their conscience on the Lord’s Day. Especially in today’s difficult employment situation, employees’ freedom of conscience requires protection.”
The Conservative Party indicated their intention to seek agreement between interested parties on a Bill to replace the current Shops Act in England and Wales (which is now so flagrantly being broken by most of the main supermarket and DIY chains). Such a Bill cannot be expected to improve the present situation, and it seems an impossible goal to seek agreement between bodies who support Sabbath observance and those whose only desire is to make money from the Sabbath.
The Labour Party, similarly, propose “a conference of the various interest groups in order to arrive at a consensus on the way the Shops Act should be amended”. They also stated, “We believe it is vital for those who work in the industry not to be discriminated against and, accordingly, our proposals will give emphasis to employment protection”.
The Scottish National Party state that they do not vote on purely English issues, and any future Shops Act is unlikely to apply to Scotland. They go on to refer to their belief “in a constitutional guarantee of freedom of conscience and freedom of worship for all citizens, as well as the right to pursue one’s own religious and philosophical convictions.”
The Liberal Democrats acknowledged our letter but have not, after more than three months, replied further.
It should be noted that this is but one moral issue out of many, and also that individual candidates may have their own views on the subject.
K.D.M.