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| David Cameron's Christmas message hails 'Christian' Britain and praises armed forces | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| David Cameron has used his Christmas message to emphasise the importance of security and to applaud those involved in protecting the country from terrorism. | David Cameron has used his Christmas message to emphasise the importance of security and to applaud those involved in protecting the country from terrorism. |
| In an address with some uncanny echoes of the Conservative party’s key general election message, the prime minister said: “If there is one thing people want at Christmas, it’s the security of having their family around them and a home that is safe.” | In an address with some uncanny echoes of the Conservative party’s key general election message, the prime minister said: “If there is one thing people want at Christmas, it’s the security of having their family around them and a home that is safe.” |
| Cameron acknowledged that some people were not enjoying these blessings, either abroad, in places such as refugee camps, or in the UK, where some people are “ill, homeless or alone” and he paid tribute to people who would be working or volunteering at Christmas to help the vulnerable. | Cameron acknowledged that some people were not enjoying these blessings, either abroad, in places such as refugee camps, or in the UK, where some people are “ill, homeless or alone” and he paid tribute to people who would be working or volunteering at Christmas to help the vulnerable. |
| But he had special praise for members of the armed forces protecting Britain. | But he had special praise for members of the armed forces protecting Britain. |
| “It is because they face danger that we have peace. And that is what we mark today as we celebrate the birth of God’s only son, Jesus Christ – the Prince of Peace,” said Cameron, mindful, no doubt, that national security is an issue on which he is perceived to have a big advantage over the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn. | “It is because they face danger that we have peace. And that is what we mark today as we celebrate the birth of God’s only son, Jesus Christ – the Prince of Peace,” said Cameron, mindful, no doubt, that national security is an issue on which he is perceived to have a big advantage over the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn. |
| Cameron also said being Christian made Britain a country tolerant of all faiths. | Cameron also said being Christian made Britain a country tolerant of all faiths. |
| “As a Christian country, we must remember what his birth represents: peace, mercy, goodwill and, above all, hope. | “As a Christian country, we must remember what his birth represents: peace, mercy, goodwill and, above all, hope. |
| “I believe that we should also reflect on the fact that it is because of these important religious roots and Christian values that Britain has been such a successful home to people of all faiths and none.” | “I believe that we should also reflect on the fact that it is because of these important religious roots and Christian values that Britain has been such a successful home to people of all faiths and none.” |
| Related: Jeremy Corbyn: Labour developing plan to break up big media groups | Related: Jeremy Corbyn: Labour developing plan to break up big media groups |
| Corbyn chose not to issue a specific Christmas message, a move that prompted the Telegraph website to run a story – inspired either by a delight in self-parody, or by malice, or by both – with the headline: Jeremy Corbyn ‘cancels Christmas’. | Corbyn chose not to issue a specific Christmas message, a move that prompted the Telegraph website to run a story – inspired either by a delight in self-parody, or by malice, or by both – with the headline: Jeremy Corbyn ‘cancels Christmas’. |
| But Labour aides said that Corbyn would be releasing a new year’s message (as will Cameron) and that Corbyn had set out his thinking about Christmas in a recent Mirror article. | But Labour aides said that Corbyn would be releasing a new year’s message (as will Cameron) and that Corbyn had set out his thinking about Christmas in a recent Mirror article. |
| Corbyn wrote: “The Christmas story holds up a mirror to us all. ‘Do unto others as you would have done to you’ – that is the essence of my socialism, summed up in the word ‘solidarity’. | Corbyn wrote: “The Christmas story holds up a mirror to us all. ‘Do unto others as you would have done to you’ – that is the essence of my socialism, summed up in the word ‘solidarity’. |
| “The concept of solidarity is about our unity – we succeed or fail together ... | “The concept of solidarity is about our unity – we succeed or fail together ... |
| “Jesus said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’. | “Jesus said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’. |
| “It is a similar maxim that inspired our party: From each according to their means, to each according to their needs.” | “It is a similar maxim that inspired our party: From each according to their means, to each according to their needs.” |
| That quote is best known in the form of a variant coined by Karl Marx – “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” – but Corbyn was intentionally quoting an earlier version associated with the French socialist movement. | That quote is best known in the form of a variant coined by Karl Marx – “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” – but Corbyn was intentionally quoting an earlier version associated with the French socialist movement. |
| Related: BBC to give Ukip three party broadcasts a year – but Greens will get none | Related: BBC to give Ukip three party broadcasts a year – but Greens will get none |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, issued a video featuring children from an Edinburgh primary school with a straightforward “Merry Christmas” message. | Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, issued a video featuring children from an Edinburgh primary school with a straightforward “Merry Christmas” message. |
| In his Christmas message, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, said he hoped “we are all inspired to look outwards and upwards, as we seek to make our country a compassionate, liberal and welcoming one”. | In his Christmas message, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, said he hoped “we are all inspired to look outwards and upwards, as we seek to make our country a compassionate, liberal and welcoming one”. |
| Natalie Bennett, the Green party leader, used her Christmas message to urge people to ask their relatives about their past. | Natalie Bennett, the Green party leader, used her Christmas message to urge people to ask their relatives about their past. |
| “Maybe you’ll make some unexpected discoveries,” she said. “Maybe your auntie, who you never knew much about, it turns out she was at Greenham Common.” | “Maybe you’ll make some unexpected discoveries,” she said. “Maybe your auntie, who you never knew much about, it turns out she was at Greenham Common.” |
| In his Christmas message, in the Sunday Mirror, Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, said: “Whilst I would not ever present myself as being a person of deep religious conviction, I absolutely believe in Christian values that have made this country great.” | In his Christmas message, in the Sunday Mirror, Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, said: “Whilst I would not ever present myself as being a person of deep religious conviction, I absolutely believe in Christian values that have made this country great.” |