My article on Tommy Robinson’s Christmas carol service created all kinds of responses. BBC Radio 4 and The Times Radio got in touch and the organisation Stand Up to Racism asked me to speak at their counter-demo on Whitehall held just before Tommy Robinson’s event. Criticism But as with any widely read article, I also… Continue reading The Polar(isation) Express: reflections on Tommy Robinson’s carol concert
Category: Politics
Tommy Robinson’s Carol Concert: show naïve grace or face the ugly truth?
The far-right campaigner, Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, claims to have become a Christian in prison. And this Saturday, his Unite the Kingdom movement has organised a Christmas Carol service in Whitehall. John Clifton wrote thoughtful article about Robinson's challenge to the church about how it engages men. He did not approve of Robinson… Continue reading Tommy Robinson’s Carol Concert: show naïve grace or face the ugly truth?
Moral Revolution: Rutger Bregman’s ‘must-listen’ Reith lectures
Rutger Bregman is a Dutch historian who is giving the BBC Reith Lectures this year. I listened to the first lecture of the series, A Time of Monsters this weekend, and I was deeply struck by Bregman's moral force, conviction and clarity. I would encourage all G+T readers to listen to the full 30 minute… Continue reading Moral Revolution: Rutger Bregman’s ‘must-listen’ Reith lectures
Is Kemi Badenoch right: is the welfare system “unchristian”? – by Krish Kandiah
The leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, was asked in an interview whether welfare spending was unchristian and she replied: “In early Christian times there was no state or welfare so I think that you can argue that, actually. The Christian tradition is about communities and families and charity, not about compulsory taxation in… Continue reading Is Kemi Badenoch right: is the welfare system “unchristian”? – by Krish Kandiah
Frank Field: socialist, conservative, Christian
Frank Field, the late Labour MP who represented Birkenhead for 40 years and died last year, will always be one of my political heroes. Last year Together for the Common Good invited me to give a talk in his memory, and this month, an official Frank Field Memorial Lecture has been inaugurated. The first lecture… Continue reading Frank Field: socialist, conservative, Christian
Prophet or Provider: what is the church’s role to those on the margins?
On Tuesday 21st October, I am very honoured to be giving the annual Hook Lecture at Leeds Minster on the title: Prophet or Provider? How can we be a prophetic voice for change while meeting the needs of people at the margins. Watch this 90 second video introducing this topic: https://videopress.com/v/2VVdXYfZ?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fvideos.files.wordpress.com%2F2VVdXYfZ%2Fdoc-20251010-wa0000-1_mp4_std.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true We are living in… Continue reading Prophet or Provider: what is the church’s role to those on the margins?
Don’t judge a book by its cover Mr Jenrick – by Joe Aldred
Robert Jenrick MP and current Shadow Justice Secretary, Photo: Flickr I was born in Jamaica, a former Spanish then British slave colony. My father migrated to this country as a young man to find work to support his family and I joined him when I was in my mid-teens. I am a descendant of enslaved… Continue reading Don’t judge a book by its cover Mr Jenrick – by Joe Aldred
George Orwell and (Culture) War
Why is George Orwell my favourite author? Because he had the bravery and conviction to channel his creative genius into genuinely independent thinking. Today, more than ever, we need thinking which challenges the cultural silos and echo chambers we become stuck in. Orwell was a socialist, firmly on the political left-wing and was fiercely critical… Continue reading George Orwell and (Culture) War
Reclaiming social justice from toxic identity politics
Last week I was at Kings Cross station in London waiting for a train when a middle-aged man called Martin approached me begging for cash. I explained that I did not give money but would be happy to buy him something to eat and drink. Martin accepted this offer and as we walked to a… Continue reading Reclaiming social justice from toxic identity politics
Applauded, booed & heckled: David Brooks’ masterclass in public theology
David Brooks addressing the ARC conference, London, 2025 In these polarizing times, what kind of voices do we most need to listen to? Those who simply affirm our own sense of righteousness? Or those who challenge our own blind-spots and urge us to think more deeply? This week the conservative journalist David Brooks gave a… Continue reading Applauded, booed & heckled: David Brooks’ masterclass in public theology
Grace + Truth 
