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- Is Tommy Robinson the person to put Christ back into Christmas? December 3, 2025 5:59 pm
What will Unite the Kingdom’s rally really put into Christmas? Every year, there are calls to ‘put Christ back into Christmas’. The gospel good news message of love, peace, goodwill and hope embodied in Christ’s coming is desperately needed in our society. However, this year that call is coming from a rather unexpected place. Following their ‘Free Speech’ rally in London in September, far right activist Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) and his Unite the Kingdom movement are organising an event in Whitehall next weekend which says it is about ‘putting the Christ back into Christmas’. Given the history of Tommy Robinson and his supporters, there are grounds for caution and careful discernment around this event. Robinson came to fame after founding the English Defence League and has served five terms in prison for a variety of offences, including violent assault and fraud. Last year he was given an 18 month jail sentence after pleading guilty to repeatedly breaching a court order by sharing untrue, Islamophobic and defamatory videos about a young Syrian refugee. The child had been a victim of violence, and Robinson’s videos led to a year-long campaign of hate and death threats that required the boy and his family to relocate. Christ is love Christ is self-sacrificial love. Christmas is a celebration of the moment that love entered into the world as a vulnerable human child. Many Christians will welcome any initiative that seeks to centre Christ at Christmas. But focusing on Christ compels us to ask, in relation to anything being done or said in Christ’s name, ‘Is this about love?’ If so, is it an easy love that includes only the likeminded, and those who belong to certain groups – or is it the challenging and all-encompassing love that came in Christ at Christmas, which extends to all? ‘The angel said to [the shepherds], “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.”’ (Luke 2:10) Is this love? In May of this year, while in prison, Tommy Robinson made a commitment to follow Christ. We dearly hope that is a sign of God at work in his life, but as Matthew 7:15-20 reminds us, that will only be known by its fruits. ‘The fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (Galatians 5:22-23). Upon his release from prison, Yaxley-Lennon was a key organiser of Unite the Kingdom’s ‘Free Speech’ rally in September. Speeches expressed hostility to refugees and immigrants, featured Islamophobic rhetoric, and saw the promulgation of the ‘Great Replacement’ conspiracy theory, which stokes fear that ‘other’ religions and races are seeking to overwhelm ethnic white cultures, and that ‘we’ must therefore – in the words of Elon Musk speaking at the rally – “either fight back or die”. Unsurprisingly, given such rhetoric, there was violent disorder towards police and bystanders, with punches, bottles and flares thrown. Perhaps more surprisingly, the event also featured Christian prayer and the use of Christian symbols. In September Christian leaders shared concerns about the co-option of Christianity during the Unite the Kingdom event, writing: “The cross is the ultimate sign of sacrifice for the other. Jesus calls us to love both our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable.” While the organisers claim that this month’s event is not about politics, immigration or ‘Islam or any other group’, the initial announcement about it included more ‘Great Replacement’ rhetoric and followed Yaxley-Lennon’s familiar pattern of making false and defamatory statements about non-white people in general and Muslims in particular. While there are many legitimate criticisms that could be levelled at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the announcement labelled him “an unwelcome foreign invader” imposing “Sharia Law”. This is not about honest engagement with the Mayor’s record, policies or intentions, but a clear attempt to generate hostility towards him because of his background. Is this love? Love casts out fear There is a lot of fear around at the moment. Fear of declining living standards and rising costs, fear of violence and crime and, yes, fear of the other. Those fears are real and deep and legitimate, and political answers are needed to address many of them – answers that enable the needs of the poorest and most marginalised to be put at the centre. One of those answers came last week, with the long-awaited end of the two-child benefit limit. There is a posture of competitiveness at the root of the Unite the Kingdom movement. There is talk about making Britain great again, and about the superiority of the UK compared to other countries, of those born in the UK being more somehow deserving than those born elsewhere, and of Christianity compared to other religions. People fear loss, and one way to avoid loss is to beat down the other. But is this love? ‘There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.’ (1 John 4:18a) Why does perfect love cast out fear? Not because those fears are irrelevant or unjustified, but because fear is about blame and punishment, and God is about grace. Perfect love casts out fear by removing the divisions between us, by making it impossible to point the finger, by untangling the painful realities of life from the ways in which we treat each other. Love does not stoke fear of other human beings. We are called to love our neighbour as we love ourselves, not to hate ourselves, nor to hate our neighbour. Loving your community and country is an expression of this. But when love of nation manifests itself in the rejection of people from other nations, or other faiths, or other races, is this love? Loving the stranger Unite the Kingdom’s rally in September was infused with “them and us” language. ‘We’ – white people born in the United Kingdom – were portrayed as people who […]
- ‘Good news of great joy… for all!’ December 3, 2025 4:33 pm
Supporting churches to respond to the co-option of Christmas by the Far Right Local churches across the UK will already have well-developed plans for celebrating Christmas – both in our church buildings and with our wider communities. Each of us will have had a lifetime of sharing the message at the heart of Christmas, ‘good news of great joy… for all’. But this year, we have seen a ‘turning up of the volume’ of Far Right politics and the co-option of Christian language and symbols – including Christmas – for a nationalist agenda, overtly hostile to asylum-seekers and Muslims, and more covertly threatening to many more of us in our churches and neighbourhoods. This includes an event planned for central London on 13th December, led by ‘Tommy Robinson’ and ‘Unite the Kingdom’, with the explicit aim of ‘putting Christ back into Christmas’, but associated closely with aggressive patriotism, xenophobia and Islamophobia. We’ll be all too aware that within our church communities, and our wider neighbourhoods, there will be some people who find these events threatening or scary, some who will want to fiercely reject them, others who will be drawn to them for a variety of reasons, and still many others who will feel confused and bewildered by the mixed messages that they find themselves having to make sense of. We offer here a ‘rapid response’ resource for local churches wanting to navigate these complexities and discern faithful ways forward: to celebrate Christmas with a clear message of love for all our neighbours and (in small but significant ways) resisting agendas of division and hostility, while recognising that even within our own church communities there will very likely be a wide diversity of experiences, hopes and fears, and political views. We include here a call to focus particularly on Sunday 14th December (which some Christian traditions call ‘Gaudete Sunday’) with services, events and wider communications that embody the themes of welcome, hospitality and joy – for all! About this resource This resource has been compiled by Revd Dr Al Barrett, Hodge Hill Church (hodgehillvicar@hotmail.co.uk), in collaboration with Larger Us, the Centre for the Study of Bible & Violence, the Joint Public Issues Team (Baptist Union, Methodist Church & United Reformed Church), and a number other Christian leaders and organisations across the UK. Please note: as this is a ‘rapid response’ resource, with multiple contributors collaborating across different denominations and organisations, it does not claim to be comprehensive, ‘authorised’, or a single, unified position. All views expressed here are those of the contributors, who offer different and complementary perspectives on these complex issues. #JoyForAllDecember 2025 Additional downloadable resources ‘Good news great joy for all’: Created by Oasis Church Waterloo, this is free to use (you might want to add your own local logo to it). ‘Bus Stop Nativity’ by Andrew Gadd: Permission granted for free use. High resolution version coming soon, with the strapline ‘How will you welcome Christ this Christmas?’ Source
- Human Rights Day December 3, 2025 9:55 am
On 10 December, people around the world mark Human Rights Day. Human rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) include the rights to life, free elections, a fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom from torture and freedom from discrimination. Last month, representatives of the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches signed a letter speaking up for human rights. The letter calls on the UK Government to defend the human rights that are protected by the ECHR, signed by the UK in 1951. Read more about the letter here. That post introduced the theological idea of the image of God as foundational to this discussion. In this post, I write about how theology has framed my own understandings of human rights. I end by suggesting some actions and offering a prayer. Human Rights and the Image of God Human rights are theologically significant, rooted in the Christian belief that humans carry the image of God. My own understanding of the image of the Trinitarian God is that God is known more fully through our relationships with each other. This has strongly affected my understanding of human rights, particularly our rights to freedom of thought and expression, and freedom from discrimination. ‘With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.’ – James 3.9 The image of God is reflected in how we speak to and of each-other. Every time that we speak or act towards another human being, we speak or act towards God.1 ‘Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen cannot love God whom they have not seen.’ – 1 John 4.20 Christian theologian Alistair McFadyen picked up this idea, writing, ‘Created in the image of the Trinitarian God, humans are thus in dialogue with God and in dialogue with each other’.2 He argues that how we communicate with each other either accepts and mirrors or rejects and distorts the image of God. McFadyen goes on to explore what it might be like to ‘actively image God’ in what we say and do.3 For McFadyen, imaging God accurately means gifting each other human dignity and rights, in respect of our human dignity. If the ways in which we actively image God reflect our understanding of God, we cannot discriminate against each other lest we limit or reject God’s image. ‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.’ – Galatians 6.2 Catherine Keller expands this idea of the relational image of God into a strong and compelling call for attention to the voices and rights of others in order to grow a ‘mindfulness that opens possibilities for shared life and ethical action’.4 In other words, our imaging of God relies on our openness to the lived experiences of other people – both those we are similar to and agree with, and those we differ from and – on some topics – disagree with. If we are to share life and act ethically as part of our God-like-ness, we must protect each other against manipulation and harm. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.’ – John 1.1-4 We can learn even more about the image of God from Pacific theologian Jione Havea who uses talanoa, a method of conversational storytelling, in his work and emphasizes relational identity rooted in community. Before God is incarnate, God is a conversation – Jesus is spoken into being – and so the freedom to live, to speak, to be as we are; the freedom to tell our authentic stories – images God.5 If we are to be rooted in living out God’s story of relationships – all must be able to join in free communication. This is just a dip of one toe into one aspect of human rights. There are whole books about theology and human rights, and many perspectives on this conversation. I wonder what you think about human rights, and about how they impact and our impacted by our understandings of God, and of what it means to be human? Protect Human Rights So, on Human Rights Day, speak out for human rights. Live out the image of God by ensuring that everyone can live, can engage in the democratic process; can protect their own freedom; can be, think and speak freely; can be free from torturous harm and can live without fear of discrimination. Write to your MP The UK’s adherence to the ECHR is still under threat, risking there being no international protection of our human rights. Write to your MP today to back the ECHR and defend our human rights (Amnesty) – Defend our Human Rights – Tell Your MP to Back the ECHR Pray Pray that these rights may be protected on the Sunday before or after Human Rights Day. You might like to use this prayer: God – Father, Mother and Creator of us all, We thank you that we are made in your image, And that freedom to engage with each other with grace, Is part of our imaging of you. Holy Spirit, may we recognise the dignity of every human being, Protecting each person’s right to life, to democracy, To freedom, to think, speak and live authentically, To be protected from harm, torture and death. Jesus, our brother, may we respect the image of God in everyone we engage with, Listening to understand, rather than to respond, Seeking to be transformed, rather than to transform the other, Caring for each person with respect and grace, Knowing that, in doing so, we are caring for the Body […]
- What are the government’s asylum reform proposals? November 25, 2025 3:38 pm
On 17 November 2025, the government announced major proposed changes to UK asylum policy. Drawing on similar policies implemented in Denmark, the stated aim is to “restore order and control to our borders” and deter people from seeking asylum in the UK. In response, leaders from the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches expressed concern that the changes did not reflect an approach that prioritised human dignity, but instead would “place more demands on vulnerable individuals and an overstretched system”. What is proposed? Making refugee status temporary People granted refugee status will have to apply for this to be renewed every 30 months, compared to five years at present. Far longer routes to permanent settlement People seeking asylum who have entered the UK via irregular routes, such as by crossing the English Channel, would have to wait 20 years before they could apply for indefinite leave to remain. Currently, it’s five years. It should be noted that for most people there is no option to apply for asylum in the UK without entering through an irregular route, even though under the Refugee Convention people have the legal right to seek refuge here. Returning refugees home if their country is deemed “safe” During this 20 year wait period, refugee status could be revoked at any time if people’s country of origin is deemed to be or become “safe”. This would also affect Ukrainians who are in the UK under temporary protection, should the war in Ukraine end. It is not clear what would happen to children born to refugee parents in the UK if their parents lose their leave to remain. Removing automatic housing and financial support for people seeking asylum, who would otherwise face destitution Assistance could be removed from people who have the right to work but are unemployed, or those working illegally, who have broken the law, or not complied with removal directions. It’s important to note that most people seeking asylum do not have the right to work, unless they have specific skills in a limited list of fields, and they have waited for more than a year for a decision on their asylum claim. Narrowly reinterpreting the ‘right to family life’ Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which relate to the right to family life, are grounds on which people can challenge asylum decisions. The government intends to legislate to narrow the acceptable interpretation of this right by the courts, to only refer to immediate family members. The right to refugee family reunion will also be removed. New safe routes A new safe regulated route will be introduced for people to seek refuge in the UK with sponsorship support from individuals or communities. The numbers will be capped. What impact will these changes have? There is very little evidence that ‘deterrent’ approaches work. The Home Office’s own research has found the main reasons why people choose to seek refuge in the UK are factors like language and community connections. However, it is clear that the proposals would place addition burdens on the already overstretched asylum system, as well as on those seeking asylum. They would also not serve to encourage new arrivals to settle and integrate into communities. The changes come alongside wider proposed reforms to immigration policy, announced in May 2025, for those coming to the UK on visas via legal migration routes. These would see a doubling of the standard qualifying period for permanent residence (also known as indefinite leave to remain or settlement) from five to ten years, and require visa applicants to have a higher standard of English. These changes are currently subject to a government consultation. Source
- Response to asylum reforms November 21, 2025 12:52 pm
Leaders of the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches have issued the following statement in response to the government’s announcements this week on proposed changes to its asylum and returns policy: “Let us keep loving our neighbours. Public debate around migration has increasingly been shaped by voices that trade in fear, resentment, and the scapegoating of those who already carry heavy burdens. We fear that the tone and content of the Home Secretary’s recent announcement on asylum policy reform risks deepening these fractures rather than healing them. What threatens our social fabric is not the presence of vulnerable people seeking sanctuary, but rhetoric and policy that sets neighbour against neighbour and encourages suspicion instead of solidarity. The solution is not to try and appease those who seek to divide us, but to build a fair, compassionate and well-managed asylum system, that reflects Britain’s values and responsibilities. Our Christian faith compels us to hold that such a system should prioritise human dignity, and treat people as any of us would wish to be treated. That means it must be resourced to make decisions swiftly rather than leaving people in limbo for months or even years; allow those applying for asylum to work, support themselves and contribute to society; enable families to be together if possible; and encourage integration into local communities. Yet many of the UK government’s new proposals would have the opposite effect, and place more demands on vulnerable individuals and an overstretched system. We welcome the promise of new safe regulated routes for people to be provided with sanctuary in the UK, sponsored by individuals and communities. We have long believed this to be a far better approach to tackling dangerous channel crossings than ever more hostile policies. In this, we glimpse seeds of hope. Our churches continue to be enriched by the involvement of those who have sought refuge in this country, and our experience is of people who wish to contribute positively to British society. Our calling and commitment is to keep loving our neighbours, and our heartfelt longing is for our society’s approach to immigration to embody those values.” Revd Richard Andrew, President of the Methodist ConferenceRevd Lynn Green, General Secretary, Baptist Union of Great BritainCatriona Wheeler, General Assembly Moderator, United Reformed Church A prayer God of welcomeyou call us to love our neighbours as ourselvesand show your care for those who are most vulnerable. We hold before you todaythose forced to make dangerous journeys in search of safetychildren separated from their familiesand those who have been waiting a long time for good news. Be with all who are fearful or angrybecause of the treatment they have receivedand communities struggling with poverty and inadequate services. We pray for those who leadthat they would make wise and compassionate decisionsguided by principle rather than political expediency. May we keep loving our neighbours – all our neighbours –even when that is costly or unpopularand be agents of your healing, and peace, and hope. Amen. Take action: stand with refugees At a time when we are witnessing increasing anti-migrant sentiment in some local communities and in politics, let’s show that not only are refugees welcome here, but that our communities stand wholeheartedly together. Join the campaign focused on the first weekend of December (5-7 December), in which individuals, groups and organisations are invited to join in with creating public displays of orange hearts – a symbol of compassion for people fleeing war and persecution – in thousands of different ways in local communities. Find out more Source
- Standing Up For Human Rights November 13, 2025 3:58 pm
Blog · 13 November, 2025 “Now is the time for a full-throated defence of the ECHR and HRA. No one has human rights, unless we all have human rights.” Nearly 300 organisations have joined together to express support for European Convention on Human Rights, in a letter coordinated by Liberty. Signatories included senior representatives of the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches, alongside leading human rights organisations such as Amnesty, Shelter, Mind, and Friends of the Earth. The letter marked the 75th anniversary of the creation of the ECHR on 4th November 1950, by calling on the UK Government to defend human rights amidst calls to drop the Convention. Following the Second World War and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the ECHR was influenced by British lawyers and signed by the UK in 1951. It is enforced by the European Court of Human Rights, and seeks to protect: the right to life the right to free elections the right to a fair trial freedom of expression freedom of thought, conscience and religion freedom from torture freedom from discrimination. In recent months, a number of politicians in Britain have suggested that the UK should withdraw from the ECHR and replace it with a more selective British Bill of Rights. Explaining why the URC chose to sign the letter, Roo Stewart, URC Head of Public Issues and JPIT member, said, “There is a dreadful history of abuses when governments around the world have exercised autonomy over what they consider to constitute human rights. By ensuring that the UK continues to be subject to international standards set outside of government policy and political convenience, with the consensus of careful consideration from multiple countries, the inhabitants of the United Kingdom can expect to live in continued freedom and safety.” The letter highlights the dangers of misinformation and scaremongering, pointing out that “leaving the ECHR would not solve policy problems like the backlog of asylum cases, or people risking their lives through Channel crossings, but would bring about years of legal uncertainty, undermine our international position, and cause harm to the rights of both migrants in the UK and our wider communities.” It calls on politicians to “end the escalating, irresponsible rhetoric targeting migrant and minoritised communities, which has devastating real-world consequences for people who are often already made vulnerable by wider social and economic marginalisation and stigmatisation.” While there have been debates within Christianity about the language and framework of human rights, Churches have historically drawn on the Christian understanding that all humans are created in the image of God as a basis on which to support the pursuit of human rights. A 1985 Methodist Conference report on the subject concluded that “Human rights treaties and machinery merely seek to entrench [biblical] values in a form which those deprived of their human dignity can depend upon to produce something nearer the biblical idea of justice,” and encouraged Christians to mobilise the community in contributing to the pursuit of human rights. The Baptist Union, Methodist, and United Reformed Church signatures on this letter represent a living out of this mandate to uphold human dignity and uphold principles of justice and equality in law at a time when such important values are coming under increased attack. Write to your MP today to back the ECHR and defend our human rights (Amnesty) – Defend our Human Rights – Tell Your MP to Back the ECHR Read the full letter and list of signatories – https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/almost-300-organisations-express-support-for-echr-on-75th-anniversar Source
- COP30, Belém, Brazil (10–21 November 2025) November 11, 2025 2:22 pm
COP30 is the ‘Implementation COP’, it is a summit at which we hope that world leaders will move from pledges to action. Key areas of discussion centre around six themes: 1. Mitigation – Reducing greenhouse gas emissions2. Adaptation – Building resilience to climate impacts3. Finance – Mobilising funds for climate solutions4. Technology – Sharing and developing clean tech5. Capacity-building – Strengthening institutions and skills6. Means of Implementation – Integrating all themes into real-world action. One of the key moments of COP30 is a global stock-take of the Paris Agreement, recognizing that current pledges will not meet the Agreement’s ambitious goal. This is a key time for holding governments to account for their responses to the climate crisis. Other conversations will include: a push on climate finance, including grant-based financing and debt restructuring as well as support for nations most affected by the climate crisis consideration of biodiversity and forest conservation, with leadership from indigenous communities a focus on cities in the continuing energy transition. Prayer Ruach is a biblical word which refers to God’s breath – but it doesn’t only mean breath in the sense of the air which expands and contracts a human being’s lungs. Ruach is energy, life force, sustenance, existence. So let’s pray for an awareness of God’s creating and energising ruach during COP30: God, Abba, we are living in a time of climate crisis.Your ruach is in the air we breathe, the Earth we live on, the atmosphere we live in,The plants, creatures we live amongst.As COP30 progresses,Breathe potential, breathe hope. God, Christ, we are living in a time of disagreement and discontent.Your ruach is in and between each of us – it is in our data, our thoughts,Our words, our actions, our silences, our inaction.As experts and politicians meet, discern and debate,Breathe potential, breathe hope. God, Spirit, we are living in a time of injustice and overwhelm.Your ruach touches each person at COP, and each person not at COP.We all have power, we can make a difference, together.As we listen to your voice, the voices of scientists,And of those most affected by climate change,The groaning of creation itself… lead us into action.Breathe potential, breathe hope. May it be so, Amen For daily prayer suggestions throughout COP30, visit COP Prayer. Campaigning Opportunities during COP30 Global Day of Action – Saturday 15 November Want to campaign around COP30? Find events near you on the action day map. Communicate with your MP Read about our hope for environmental justice and issues we encourage churches and individuals to bring before the UK Government through your local MP. After COP, we will share ways to speak to your MP about the commitments that countries have made. Interested in growing a relationship with your MP as part of your church’s work for climate justice? Find out about our Constituency Action Network. Source
- Guest Blog: Pilgrimage for Peace to DSEI Arms Fair October 13, 2025 10:59 am
Rachel Parkinson is a Methodist Minister, currently taking two years to “Live Life in a Different Way”. Here she offers some thoughts on joining a Peace Pilgrimage to the DSEI Arms Fair. I am not a natural campaigner. Whilst I’m wholeheartedly on the side of values foundational to God’s healed, renewed creation – love, justice, peace etc – I find it harder to settle on how they translate into political demands in these in-between times. This certainly applies to the arms trade. Whilst I’ve been moving towards pacifism for years, I’m not sure I’m there yet. I’d rather write a ten thousand word essay on the arms trade than choose ten words to put on a placard! The peace pilgrims en route to the Arms Fair from Oxford And yet I have very serious concerns about developments in the arms industry which are well summarised in JPIT’s The Future of Arms resources published last year. How then to make a stand? The answer for me was to join the Peace Pilgrimage from Oxford to the DSEI Arms Fair at the ExCel Centre in London in September. About 20 people – many of them Quakers – made the pilgrimage as a sign of resistance to the way things are and a sign of hope pointing to how things can be, to a future beyond the arms trade. We pledged to challenge the violence in ourselves alongside the wider culture of violence which pervades our world. The peace pilgrims gather on the road to their destination I learned a huge amount from daily conversations along the way with other pilgrims, many of whom were experienced campaigners and activists. I’m now equipped with new models of thinking about conflict and the use of weapons and have been able to give voice to my own deep motivations around seeking peace. However the pilgrimage was in itself a small laboratory for experiments on making and keeping the peace. It was no small task for 20 adults of varying abilities to walk many miles a day; to feed ourselves; and to live together in fairly basic conditions. There were often conflicting opinions on how this might best be done. We all learned important lessons about ourselves and about each other. This might be the Pilgrimage’s greatest legacy – that we are all a little more useful to the world as peace practitioners on account of our experience together. The pilgrims arrive at their final destination, the ExCeL centre in London Before the Pilgrimage I was worried that I might be accosted by people who would accuse me of naivety. I worried that if they pushed me I might end up agreeing with them! In fact more or less all the opinions we got were positive ones – toots on car horns, bicycle bells rung, thumbs up from passers-by. In fact, to my surprise, I ended up wishing that I had encountered more opposing views. Because surely the best way to go forward in the promotion of peace is to model good listening and honest conversation – even if we don’t feel we have all the answers. There is more information on the Peace Pilgrimage at peacepilgrimage.org.uk The peace pilgrims Source
- Scapegoating refugees won’t fix inequality – letter September 29, 2025 2:13 pm
Over 100 organisations, including the Methodist, Baptist, and United Reformed Churches, have sent a letter to the new Home Secretary, expressing concern about recent announcements about immigration and asylum policy. It calls for the government to stop contributing to the politics of division which scapegoats the most vulnerable, and instead halt hostile asylum policies, consult with those with lived experience of the asylum system, and focus on solving the real issues that will improve people’s lives. The full letter reads: Dear Home Secretary, We are writing to you on behalf of over 100 organisations working across different sectors to express our deep concern about the direction taken by the Government around immigration and further hostile asylum policies. The people we help, and hear from every day, are all impacted by politics of division rather than solutions. After years of these policies the asylum system is at a breaking point, and our streets have become scenes of violence. We are asking you now to unite communities and invest in meaningful solutions to prevent further damage. The Government wants to deliver growth and renew Britain. This requires tackling issues such as growing extreme inequality, underfunded councils, lack of investment in quality housing, a crumbling NHS, the climate emergency and polluted waters. Targeting refugees will do nothing to tackle these structural issues or improve people’s lives. It only serves as a dangerous smokescreen to scapegoat the most vulnerable and distract from the very real dangers to our society. Anger and division will never satisfy voters in the long-term. They cause tensions in our communities, dividing us and tearing the social fabric of our society. We have seen what happens when this is allowed to escalate, such as last year’s racist riots, this year’s disturbing demonstrations outside asylum accommodation sites and the most recent far-right rally in London promoting racism and hate speech, which record numbers attended. In her review of the Windrush scandal, Wendy Williams said that migration and wider Home Office policy is about people and should be rooted in humanity. By not changing approach, the Government is in danger of repeating the same mistakes. Before taking further action, we ask you to engage with local authorities, frontline organisations and people with lived experience. These are the people who face the reality of the hostile policies and rhetoric every day. We understand what is working and where the system is breaking down. We live the real threats to our communities. As the new Home Secretary, you now have an opportunity to turn the tide, and to end the scapegoating of migrants and performative policies that only cause harm. The Government runs the risk of this country accelerating along a dangerous path, and now is the time to urgently correct this and change course. We look forward to your reply to our concerns and hearing how you will be working to unite communities, ease tensions and support solutions to improve people’s lives. Yours sincerely, Abigail HousingACAP (Ashton Churches Asylum Project)ACHAction for Refugees in LewishamAfter ExploitationAnti-Slavery InternationalAsylosAsylum MattersAwesta Charitable OrganisationBaobab Women’s Project CICBaptist Union of Great BritainBEMISBen & Jerry’sBeyond DetentionBoaz TrustCambridge Refugee Resettlement CampaignCare4CalaisCity of Sanctuary UKCommunity InfoSourceConversations From CalaisEYSTFaith for the ClimateFocus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX)forRefugeesFreedom from TortureFreedom UnitedFriends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern IrelandGlobal Justice NowGood Chance TheatreGreater Manchester Immigration Aid UnitGreenpeace UKHelen Bamber Foundation GroupHomeless LinkHope at HomeHope ProjectsHumanists UKHumans for Rights NetworkImkaanImmigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA)Joint Council for the Welfare of ImmigrantsJustice Together InitiativeKairos HousingLatin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS)Leeds Asylum Seekers Support NetworkManchester City of SanctuaryMaryhill Integration NetworkMental Health FoundationMicro RainbowMigrants’ Rights NetworkMindMusic Action InternationalNACCOMNorthamptonshire Rights and Equality CouncilOxfam GBParents for Future UKPATH (Scotland)PCS Trade UnionPenrith and Eden Refugee Network (PERN)Race Equality NetworkRainbow HavenRainbow MigrationRAMFELRAS VoiceRefugee ActionRefugee CouncilRefugee FuturesRefugee Support GroupRefugee Welcome HomesRefugees at HomeRefugees in Effective and Active Partnership (REAP)Rene CassinRight to RemainRunnymede TrustSave the Children UKScottish Refugee CouncilShelterSimon Community ScotlandSolaceSouth East Integration NetworkSouthampton and Winchester Visitors Group (SWVG)Southeast and East Asian Centre CIC (SEEAC)Stop Trump CoalitionStories of Hope and HomeSupport for Wigan Arrivals ProjectTax Justice UKThe Methodist Church in BritainThe Poverty AllianceThe Racial Justice NetworkThe United Reformed ChurchThe Working Class Climate Alliancethe3millionTipping Point UKUbuntu Women ShelterVoices in ExileWar on WantWaterloo Community CounsellingWest End Refugee ServiceWest London WelcomeWest Yorkshire Destitute Asylum Network (WYDAN)Women Asylum Seekers Refugees & Migrants (WARM)Women for Refugee WomenYoung Roots Source
- Recognising Palestine September 22, 2025 11:35 am
Is UK recognition of a Palestinian State more than a symbolic gesture? by Rev’d. David Hardman – Methodist Liaison Officer, Jerusalem On 29 July 2025, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the UK would recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September—unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and committed to a long-term peace process and a revived the Two-State Solution. With Israel refusing a ceasefire and continuing military action in Gaza and neighbouring countries, the UK has now joined 147 of the 193 UN member states that already recognise Palestine. The number of countries announcing recognition at the UN is increasing as we write. So, is this a meaningful step or just a token gesture? The goal of recognising Palestine is to support Palestinian self-determination, which is currently denied under Israeli occupation. While UK recognition won’t end the occupation, it could help shift the international conversation. Back in 2011, the UK said it would recognise Palestine “at a time of our own choosing” to help advance peace. This was reaffirmed in Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which said: “We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.” However, past peace initiatives – Geneva (1977), Madrid (1991), Oslo (1993), Camp David (2000) – have failed to address the power imbalance between Israel and Palestine. Historian Ilan Pappé has highlighted that this imbalance undermines any realistic path to peace. For negotiations to succeed, both sides must be treated as equals. The more countries that recognise Palestine, the greater the chance of more balanced peace talks in the future. The UK government remains committed to a two-state solution. As the Prime Minister said on 29 July: “We will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the Two-State Solution. With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.” (Photographs by D. Hardman, used by permission.) Despite the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 ruling that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and that settlements must be dismantled, many argue the two-state solution may no longer be viable due to ongoing settlement expansion. Still, equality between both sides is essential for any just peace process, whatever solution that process may reach. This move could help improve security for both Israel and Palestine. The region has been afflicted by violence for over a century – not only through physical attacks, but also through the long-term harm caused by occupation. Occupation has never brought lasting safety to either side, and it never will. A peaceful agreement between two equal neighbours, not based on power or violence, offers a better path forward. Recognising Palestine – and eventually granting it full UN membership – also strengthens the role of international law. It helps ensure that both Israel and Palestine are held to the same legal standards. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the UK’s recognition could influence other nations to follow, but also carries significant historical weight. The 1917 Balfour Declaration supported the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine but promised not to harm the rights of existing non-Jewish communities. Yet, in 1948–49, 750,000 Palestinians were displaced, and in 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza. Recognising Palestine now is a long overdue step toward addressing decades of injustice and denials of rights. Some have claimed that UK recognition would reward Hamas. But it’s important to understand that countries recognise states, not governments. The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, has long recognised the State of Israel. Recognition is not a reward for violence – it is a step towards justice for the millions of Palestinians who have lived under occupation and resisted peacefully. The UK Government’s announcement will have most impact if the international community now acts together, and uses this moment to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and push for a just peace process between the two states. Get involved If you have two minutes, please continue to pray and press for a ceasefire and for a peace process that will end decades of occupation and oppression. If you have ten minutes, I would also encourage people to write to the Prime Minister to thank him and his government for recognising Palestine, and to urge them to follow up with real action: to do all in their power (including sanctions if required) to secure a ceasefire and a commitment to a just peace process. If you have longer, read up on what your denomination has said about Palestine, arrange to meet with your MP to discuss why recognition matters, and ask them to take further steps towards justice and peace. Source
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