Ex-PM's brother quits Kirk role over press closure plan

THE brother of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has quit a key Kirk committee in protest at the Church of Scotland's plans to shut down its publishing arm.

John Brown said he was not prepared to stand by and watch the Saint Andrew Press reduced from a publishing house with hundreds of titles to just one employee producing material for internal use.

He said: "I am absolutely furious at what the church is doing to Saint Andrew Press. It's an absolute disgrace.

"They are killing off an asset that the church should be developing and investing in."

Mr Brown, whose father was a Kirk minister, said the Saint Andrew Press had over half a century of successful book publishing behind it and enjoyed a strong reputation.

He said he was resigning with immediate effect as a co-opted member of the Kirk's publishing committee after behind-the-scenes talks aimed at saving the press collapsed.

He said: "I'm not prepared to stay on the committee and see this travesty of a decision pushed through. It's something the church will greatly regret in the future. It's tragic."

The plans for effective closure of the press were drawn up by the Kirk's mission and discipleship council, which is trying to tackle a 1.2 million budget deficit.

However, Mr Brown, a former head of public relations for Glasgow City Council, said the publishing committee, which is intended to oversee Saint Andrew Press, had been sidelined from the review process.

He said: "We know the church is in a financial crisis, but we have put together a business plan that allows Saint Andrew Press to continue for the next four years at little or no cost to the church."

He said the alternative business plan would mean a reduction in staff and a more commercial approach.

Talks took place over the weekend in a bid to reach a compromise before the issue comes up at the General Assembly this afternoon.

Initial reports suggested some progress, with possible agreement on retaining more staff and a commitment to new titles.

Now it appears the rescue plans have fallen through.

Mr Brown said: "I understand the talks have broken down. I'm not prepared to stand by and let this happen. I'm resigning from the committee as of now.

"I hope the Assembly will look at this seriously and will save the Saint Andrew Press."

He said the plans to retain the brand and use it for internal Kirk material would "totally debase" the Saint Andrew Press name.

He also suggested it might be better to sell the press. "If the Church doesn't want Saint Andrew Press, it should look for someone who would nurture it and take it forward."

The Kirk has insisted its plans mean the Saint Andrew Press brand and a "publishing capability" would be retained.