A few weeks ago I participated in a panel organised by the National LGBT Forum on ‘Race, Religion and Belief’. I was the token Christian. The first question I was asked centred on recent comments made by the Pope on same-sex adoption and the new equalities legislation. The Pope, you see, is not a fan. Part of me felt embarrassed that night, to profess myself as a Christian, knowing the hurt and damage that the church has done, and continues to do, to those of us in the LGBT community. On the other hand, when I read the Pope’s hate-laden comments, I did feel pretty proud to be a member of the Labour party.

I was therefore intrigued when I saw that Progress would be hosting an event with secretary of state for Scotland, Jim Murphy, speaking on the topic, ‘Faith, Family and Fairness: Why ‘Values Voters’ Matter to Labour’.

And then I read his speech. Oh dear. Oh me. Oh my.

It’s hard to know where to start, but I’ll have a go.

Murphy tells us that we can count on support from the “actively religious” in the coming election if we “reflect and respect their values and aspirations”. He states that “living together in the world, we know that morality matters”. Yes, very good. I hope we can all agree that values-led politics is the only kind of politics worth being involved in, and I have yet to meet a member or supporter of the Labour party who would prefer to be living in an amoral society. This, however, is where we part company.

Some of us have a faith, but all of us have values. The question is, what are those values and can we assume that they are shared?

My personal faith does underpin my politics. I believe in compassion, the intrinsic value of every individual. I believe that poverty is a moral issue. I believe in changing the balance between the weak and the powerful. I believe that nationalism is one of the key roots of disharmony and conflict – whether that nationalism is Scottish or British. I believe in community, in society and yes, I believe in the power of government to change lives for the better. I’m a Christian. I’m Labour.

When it comes to the priorities outlined by Mr Murphy: “the challenge posed to the welfare state by a minority who can work but won’t work; the importance of patriotism; the need for a firm but fair immigration policy; the benefits of shifting from a something for nothing society to a something for something society” – I just don’t recognise the ‘value’.

He says that the welfare state should be “a safety net not a hammock”. I believe that the only way a welfare state can work is when everyone in society can access and appreciate the benefits. The NHS, child benefit, free schools and nursery education. These are all pillars of the welfare state and it’s our job to remind the electorate of this, not to demonise those of us who, after generations of ingrained poverty, need a bit of extra help.

Poor Mr Murphy is now getting it on all sides. The Roman Catholic church, in the person of cardinal Keith O’Brien, has accused Labour of ignoring ‘Christian’ values and warns that we may be about to “slide into another abyss”. Apparently, when the Pope arrives in the UK, on his £20 million taxpayer funded visit later this year, cardinal O’Brien is hoping he will give the Labour party “hell”, spending his time wisely, attacking equal rights and promoting discrimination. What an excellent use of scarce public resources.

Perhaps we should ask Mr Murphy how many of his hammock swingers we could fund with £20 million? But what would be the value in that?