BREXIT, the UK's constitutional future and a decade of cuts have marked out some brutal political divisions in the run-up to two looming elections.
But all the major parties in the mix to run the country's biggest council have reached a consensus on a most unlikely local election issues - the Scottish Reformation.
Labour, the Tories and SNP have all said they will support a permanent memorial to St John Ogilvie, who was hanged in Glasgow over 400 years ago and remains the only post-Reformation Scottish saint.
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Current leader Frank McAveety said the project was something a new Labour administration would back, while the SNP said recognising the St John Ogilvie, Scotland's only Catholic martyr, could be part of his party’s plans for a ‘historic zone’ celebrating Glasgow’s past.
The son of a Calvinist nobleman who converted to Catholicism and became a Jesuit in his teens, St John Ogilvie was discovered carrying out celebrations of the then banned faith, imprisoned, tortured and then hanged and drawn at the historic Glasgow Cross area.
Beatified in 1929 and then canonised in 1976, Pope Francis sent a special envoy to Glasgow in March 2015 to mark the 400th anniversary of the martyr's execution.
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Mr McAveety told the Scottish Catholic Observer: “If re-elected, I will be delighted to assist with the efforts to establish a permanent memorial to St John Ogilvie. His life is of significant historical and religious importance and Glasgow Cross is a site of rich religious history. The creation of a memorial here is something that my administration will support.”
David McDonald, the SNP’s deputy leader on the council, told the publication: “Our idea for the historic zone is initially centred on the protection and preservation of the current built heritage.
"But we also want to support new ideas that help tell Glasgow’s story. I remember learning about St John Ogilvie at school, and through many conversations with my late grandfather, so I know he’s still a living figure for many in the Church and I’d be keen to help.
“I think there’s also something to be said for looking at the story of St John Ogilvie in the light of Scottish history and recent events around the world. Some kind of memorial could give an example of what happens when people don’t listen to each other and aren’t tolerant of other views. This seems a very positive project and I’d be delighted to meet with organisers if I’m re-elected.”
Conservative councillor David Miekle said: “If other Conservative councillors are elected I am sure they would also be happy to take part in a meeting."
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