Willie Rennie

Willie Rennie’s Christmas message

By | Sat 24th December 2016 - 10:55 am

The festive season affords us the opportunity to reflect on what is important in life.

During the festive season we witness the joy that comes from acts of generosity and we can see that there is much to be celebrated. Our thanks must go out to those who work over Christmas including the emergency services who keep us safe. Our thoughts are with those who are unwell, alone or struggling. And our appreciation is with those who come to their aid.

However, there is little doubt we are in a more uncertain and dark place in global affairs. The election of President Trump and the decision to sever links with our friends in Europe have taken our society in the wrong direction.

With attacks in Turkey, the conflict in Yemen, and the war in Syria with its awful reports from Aleppo, it is imperative we do not turn our backs no matter how difficult the challenge.

Yet there is hope in the response to these conflicts and to the rise of divisive politics. The positive alternative of government and charitable international aid combined with alternative voices that promote tolerance, optimism, openness and unity means that there is light amongst this darkness.

There is hope at Christmas.

Enjoy Christmas.

* Willie Rennie is a Member of the Scottish Parliament and former Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats

Read more by or more about or .
This entry was posted in News.
Advert

5 Comments

  • Stuart 24th Dec '16 - 1:33pm

    Politicians’ Eid messages always mention the religious significance of Eid. Why does this message make no reference at all to the religious significance of Christmas?

  • Tynan 24th Dec '16 - 8:09pm

    Good point,well made, dare I suggest we already know the answer?

  • Mr D Brooks 24th Dec '16 - 9:18pm

    Hey Willie,

    Thanks for the commentary on the world.

    Talk to me about home now. How tolerant are you of non white folk ?

    Do you have any in your team yet ?

    I hope there has been positive change.

    Kind regards

    Duwayne Brooks OBE

  • Richard Underhill 26th Dec '16 - 8:23am

    Trump is not President yet, as the vote in the United Nations Security Council showed.
    http://guardian.ng/news/netanyahu-calls-in-us-envoy-in-fallout-over-un-vote/

  • Jayne Mansfield 26th Dec '16 - 7:17pm

    The Independent can only be accessed online and the Guardian is in dire straits, so it has been a great year for journalists and politicians of the Right of the political spectrum.

Post a Comment

Lib Dem Voice welcomes comments from everyone but we ask you to be polite, to be on topic and to be who you say you are. You can read our comments policy in full here. Please respect it and all readers of the site.

To have your photo next to your comment please signup your email address with Gravatar.

Your email is never published. Required fields are marked *

*
*
Please complete the name of this site, Liberal Democrat ...?

Advert

Recent Comments

  • Neil Sandison
    This one of a series of articles recently published in the Liberal Democrat Voice that defines our social liberal values . Frequently the hot house of Westminst...
  • Pawel Urbanski
    This is the right problem to be working on, and I think the answer may be less about the words than about the moments. In my experience people learn what we sta...
  • Simon Robinson
    It's good to have an MP putting herself forward for this. The manifesto seems a bit vague though. All good thoughts and nothing you can really disagree with, b...
  • Robin Bennett
    I am sure Alan will have the sympathies of all of us. The situation is sad and frustrating. Forgive me for making one small point, Alan: you said that 40 Ho...
  • Jonathan Brown
    @George - me too. I know that not everyone is happy about this, but it's perfectly reasonable policy and I think all care is being taken to try to reassure thos...