Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy was among the leading Catholic MPs who lost their seats in the general election that returned David Cameron to power with an outright majority and delivered almost all the seats north of the border to the SNP.
Mr Murphy vowed to continue as Scottish Labour leader after losing his East Renfrewshire seat to the SNP’s Kirsten Oswald, who defeated him by 23,013 votes to 19,295. He had held the seat for nearly 20 years.
Another Catholic, Charles Kennedy, the former Lib Dem leader who represented Ross, Skye and Lochaber, lost the seat he had held for 30 years to the SNP’s former treasurer, Ian Blackford. He lost by more than 5,000 votes.
Margaret Curran, also a Catholic, the former Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, lost her seat in Glasgow East to the SNP's Natalie McGarry, 33, by more than 10,000 votes.
Overall the SNP has won 56 seats out of a total 59 in Scotland. The Catholic bishops in Scotland have been accused of favouring the party. Critics pointed to the absence of any mention of the rest of the United Kingdom in their election guidance, which also warned against nuclear weapons, which the SNP has said they would not renew.
Historian Tom Gallagher wrote in The Tablet last month that Scotland’s bishops and priests were not cautious in allowing religion to be seen as an “accessory of nationalism”. He outlined individual prelates’ relationship to SNP members, and noted that Archbishop of Glasgow, Philip Tartagalia, had praised SNP leader Alex Salmond as “a wonderful ambassador and champion for Scotland at home and abroad”. Professor Gallagher warned: “Archbishop Tartaglia’s growing support for the SNP may yet leave the Church exposed and vulnerable if Scotland becomes a major political headache that acquires global significance.”
South of the border Catholic Tim Livesey, Ed Miliband's Chief of Staff, said he would be looking for "pastures new" and was "open to offers".
Among parliamentarians, Labour's Rob Flello, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South and Paul Maynard, Conservative MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, both convenors of the Catholic Legislators’ Network, held onto their seats.
Chris Whitehouse, trustee of the Right To Life charity, noted that Fiona Bruce, Conservative chairwoman of the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, of which Mr Flello is a vice-chairman, was returned with a nearly 17,000 vote majority. Despite the swings against the Liberal Democrats nationally, Dr John Pugh, another vice chairman of the group, held his seat in Southport.
One new Catholic MP to be welcomed to the House of Commons is Conservative Tom Tugendhat, son of High Court judge Sir Michael, who won the safe seat of Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling after the retirement of his predecessor, Sir John Stanely.
Other Christian MPs who have lost their seats include Labour’s Douglas Alexander, who has served as MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South and voiced concern for persecuted Christians. He lost his seat to the SNP’s Mhairi Black, a 20-year-old student and Britain’s youngest MP.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, president of the bishops' conference of England and Wales, issued a brief statement saying: "I send my congratulations to Prime Minister David Cameron on the result of yesterday’s General Election. His new government faces many challenges, not least encouraging and sustaining economic growth and, at the same time, giving particular attention to the needs of the poorest people in our society today. The Catholic Church in England and Wales looks forward to working with the newly elected Parliament for the common good of all.”
The election result has left the Catholic Church with two serious dilemmas, one political commentator said. Francis Davis, who served as an adviser to the last two governments, said the Catholic Church did not have strong relationships and networks with the Conservatives because it “didn’t really engage with the coalition”. “How on earth is it going to shape tough decisions the new government will have to make on issues such as further welfare reforms?” he asked.
He also said the election result showed that many people considered government austerity measures, which the bishops and their charity, CSAN, have opposed, an appropriate response to the economic crisis. “The Catholic Church has got to decide whether to align itself with parties like the Greens and the SNP on opposing cuts, or say now there’s a consensus that we can’t spend money like we have,” he said.
Above: Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy said he would not resign despite losing his seat. Photo: PA
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