Responding to the result of the UK Parliament General Election held on 12 December the Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church said:

“I congratulate all those who were elected yesterday in the UK General Election and all those who stood but who were not elected.

“This morning the people of these Islands awoke to a very different political landscape and as we look at the political map the difference between Scotland and the rest of the UK is clear.

“As the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church I am very aware of the work undertaken by Scottish Parliamentarians, which has encouraged us to be a welcoming, diverse and tolerant country but our church plays a part in the life of the UK and therefore today I believe we have a commission to make a request of all those politicians who are heading for Westminster:-

• Please remember that you are called to work not only for those who elected you but also for the marginalised and often disenfranchised of our society – those who struggle with homelessness, children living in poverty, those excluded from their communities by race, religion or gender.
• We have a climate crisis deepening daily across this wonderful planet. Governments must take this seriously – please remember that without the planet all your other conversations are as nothing.
• Please be assured that we will continue to pray for you all as our newly elected members but we will also continue to remind you that true civilisation must have at its heart love, generosity and care.”