A search has begun in the Western Isles to find a political candidate to fight the next general election on an anti-Sunday ferry stance.
Many islanders in Lewis and Harris are furious at CalMac’s controversial proposal to implement a Sunday ferry against the local Sabbath observance tradition.
The ferry company maintains it obtained senior legal advice suggesting the ban against the Stornoway ferry from sailing on the Sabbath is illegal.
CalMac refuses to reveal the details of its advice, leading its detractors to query if it actually exists.
It is understood CalMac is pulling back from any potential attempt of launching Sunday sailings next month.
It is believed that ferry bosses told Western Isles councillors that its consultation will continue and that there will be no decision on going ahead with Sunday sailings at the next directors’ meeting.
The fight is now poised to move from legal arguments to the political stage.
Objectors are looking for a suitable candidate who would stand as an independent in the Westminster elections.
It is understood the Scottish Christian Party would withdraw from the island’s election contest to allow a local Christian independent a better chance.
Such a candidate would grab votes from Christians who could not conscientiously vote for the mainstream parties because of the ferry row. The issue is expected to be given a high profile at a mass protest meeting being organised for later this month, which is being supported by all Presbyterian denominations on the island.
Though the Lewis branch of the Lord’s Day Observance Society (LDOS) is open to any candidate, the individual would not be affiliated to the body.
A suitable independent would expect to receive the endorsement of the LDOS.
An ideal hopeful would stand for traditional island values and offer a compromise between Labour and SNP on economic and social issues. The thrust into the political arena would be one tactic to scare the two main contenders for the Western Isles constituency.
Labour hopes to wrestle the seat from the sitting SNP candidate, but neither is strongly against a Sunday ferry.
Local LDOS chairman Rev Iain D Campbell said: “It would certainly be an independent candidate who would not be particularly riding on any one ticket. It is a possibility at this stage. We have not ruled it out.”
CalMac’s plan boosted the audience numbers attending the annual rally of the Lord’s Day Observance Society held in Stornoway town hall on Friday night. About 250 attended the forum which is seen as a taster for the forthcoming mass meeting.