This growing trend in British politics has to stop – and it involves Jesus and religion

In Liverpool last week, the UK Independence Party held what it called a “Walk with Jesus Rally” – a march framed not just as political expression, but as a declaration of faith. On the surface, it may have looked like a harmless blending of belief and public life. But scratch beneath it, and something more concerning emerges: the growing trend of political movements wrapping themselves in Christianity to legitimise their message.

This is not happening in isolation. Across Britain, groups such as Reform UK and Restore Britain are increasingly leaning on Christian language, imagery, and symbolism. Crosses, scripture, and references to “Christian values” are being deployed not as expressions of genuine faith, but as political tools – a kind of moral camouflage for policies and rhetoric that would otherwise face sharper scrutiny.

As a devout Catholic, I find this deeply uncomfortable. Faith is not a branding exercise or a campaign strategy. It is something personal, sacred, and, crucially, independent of party politics. Seeing it co-opted in this way feels less like representation and more like exploitation.

Yes, Britain has deep Christian roots. Our traditions, institutions, and culture have all been shaped by Christianity in one form or another. But that does not give political parties the right to weaponise religion for electoral gain. The message of Jesus is not one of tribalism or division. It is one of compassion, humility, and care for the outsider – values that often sit uneasily alongside the rhetoric being pushed at these rallies.

It is worth remembering that Jesus himself was, in many respects, a refugee – someone who fled danger, who lived on the margins, and who consistently sided with the vulnerable over the powerful. To invoke his name in support of hard-edged political agendas is not just ironic; it is a distortion.

As Catholics, we already have spiritual guidance. Figures like Pope Leo speak to matters of morality, justice, and compassion with a depth no political party could hope to replicate. We do not need UKIP – or any party – positioning itself as a moral authority on faith.

There's also a broader principle at stake here. Britain, for all its history, operates on a clear separation between church and state. That balance matters. Once political movements begin to claim divine backing, disagreement risks becoming heresy, and debate risks becoming division. That is how sectarianism takes root – and it rarely ends well.

And this is not a problem confined to one side of the political spectrum. Any party tempted to wrap itself in religious virtue should be challenged – yes, even the Green Party when it targets religious groups as it did in Gorton and Denton.

Faith should guide individuals, not be hijacked by institutions seeking power. The moment religion becomes a campaign tool, it stops being about God and starts being about votes.

HS2 is absurdly poetic...

There’s something almost poetic about HS2 – not in the sense of beauty, but in the sheer absurdity of it all. What began under the Conservatives as a bold, future-facing infrastructure project has somehow limped its way into the hands of the Labour Party, only to continue stalling like a broken-down train just outside Euston.

And now, the latest twist: we’re going to build a high-speed railway… but run slower trains on it. You couldn’t make it up. The justification for this madness? Cost-cutting. Billions already spent, budgets blown to pieces, and the grand solution is to quietly downgrade the very thing the project was supposed to deliver. It’s like commissioning a Ferrari and being told it’ll top out at 60mph to save on fuel.

This is a snapshot of a country that no longer seems capable of executing big ideas properly. In places like China or the United Arab Emirates, projects like this are delivered fast, often under budget, and with a sense of national ambition. Here? Endless delays, ballooning costs, and now a watered-down final product.

We’re told it might be ready by 2033. Might. And for what? A line between London and Birmingham that’s only marginally faster than what we already have. HS2 was supposed to be a statement. Instead, it’s become a symbol of drift, decline, and a political class that promises big but delivers small.

King shows his quiet class once again

Once again, King Charles is showing what quiet, decisive leadership looks like. In the wake of a shocking anti-Semitic firebomb attack outside a synagogue in north London, an attack that saw four ambulances destroyed, the King hasn’t hesitated.

By stepping in as patron of Community Security Trust, he’s sent a clear message: Britain’s Jewish community is not alone, and hatred will not be met with silence. The CST actively protects Jewish communities across the country, and at a time when tensions are high and incidents are rising, that work has never been more vital. What the King understands, and what too many politicians seem to forget, is that leadership isn’t always about words. It’s about presence. It’s about choosing the right moment to stand shoulder to shoulder with those under threat.

Slogans have ahabit of colliding with reality, Mr President!

Nearly 18 months ago, The White House crowned Donald Trump the “President of Peace” – a bold claim, even by his standards. He vowed to end wars, not ignite them. It was a neat slogan, tailor-made for a weary electorate. But slogans have a habit of colliding with reality. Now, with conflict in Iran unfolding, that promise lies in tatters. Whether Trump “wins” this war, however that is defined, is almost beside the point. The pledge itself has been broken.

For a man who trades so heavily on image, this is no small fracture. The dealmaker who promised restraint has instead chosen escalation. And with that choice, a key pillar of his political identity has crumbled. The Nobel Peace Prize? That dream is surely gone. More importantly, so too is the claim that he delivered exactly what voters were sold.

Meghan and Harry got one thing right...

Say what you want about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, but on this, they may well have been ahead of the curve. For years, the pair have warned about the corrosive impact of social media on young minds, calling for accountability where others saw only profit. Now, the tide may be turning. A US court ruling holding Meta and Google liable for a woman’s childhood addiction has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley. Is this the reckoning they spoke of? Perhaps. It’s not solely their doing, but credit where it’s due, they helped push the conversation into the mainstream.