Fraser is also founder of the pro-gay Inclusive Church, for like many in the new Church, he wants Christians to moralise about the boardroom, but not the bedroom.

Unlike his opponents, Fraser has the sounding board of Broadcasting House. In recent months he has spoken on Thought for the Day about the execution of Troy Davis in the US state of Georgia and on the summer riots, which he could see from his "haas". He had nothing to say about the greed that drove the looting, nor the fatherlessness or welfare dependency that lie at its root. 

Although TFTD devoted three slots to condemning the killing of Osama bin Laden, neither Fraser nor any other contributor has yet had much to say about Youcef Nadarkhani, the pastor sentenced to death in Iran for apostasy, or other persecuted Christians and Jews.

But Dr Fraser's media career cannot be attributed solely to the political preferences of the BBC. Journalists like him because he is genial and professional, often makes highly original points, and has an ability to translate complex theological arguments into accessible language.