Keir Starmer thanked for ‘deep sense of public service’
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, has issued a statement on the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader, saying: “I’m grateful for his service to our country and his leadership in a time of great challenges at home and abroad. As always, I pray for all those who put themselves forward for public service, and I wish Keir Starmer and his family well in this period of transition”. Christians on the Left thanked Keir Starmer for his leadership and said his resignation speech was marked by “dignity, humility, and a deep sense of public service. At moments of political change, the tone we set matters, and his words reflected a commitment to both the Party and the country he has served”.
Sir Keir’s ‘complex relationship’ with British Jewish community
Lee Harpin, political editor of Jewish News, said Keir Starmer’s relationship with the UK’s Jewish community “has been complex and, at times, difficult to assess”, citing policy approaches to antisemitism, Gaza, Israel and the Palestinians. He said there are fears that Andy Burnham will be more critical of Israel than Starmer. Phil Rosenberg. President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, issued a statement praising Sir Keir for his action on antisemitism saying this had been transformative within the Party. He said: “When the next Prime Minister comes to office, we at the Board of Deputies will continue to advocate for our community, press for a society free of hatred and prejudice, and a world of more security and peace”.
Burnham, the mayor who ‘tried to bring people together’
The president of Manchester Central Mosque and “life-long Labour supporter”, Hammad Khan, praised Mayor Andy Burnham, especially his handling of the Covid pandemic. He told Hyphen Online: “It was my first experience of dealing with Andy and I found that he was very helpful — he was very eager to understand the problems faced not just by the Muslim community but all communities in Manchester…He does not play into any divisive politics, and in my experience he is someone who always tries to bring people together.”
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson guilty of sex abuse and rape
The former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who has been convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse including one count of rape, is known for his Christian faith and is a member of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. He once gave an interview to Premier Christianity magazine saying his faith motivated him daily and he spoke of forgiveness and respect for the views of people who hold a faith-based perspective. But at Newry crown court yesterday, he was found guilty of sex abuse over 20 years against two women when they were children. During the trial, the court was told that one complainant spoke to a safeguarding figure within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 2023. A Presbyterian minister who was giving pastoral support to a complainant testified that Donaldson had sought a private conversation and wished to repent “before the Lord”, but the minister declined to meet him. Lady Donaldson was ruled unfit to stand trial, but faced a trial of the facts, and the jury found she had committed five offences related to aiding and abetting.
Theos survey finds few believe you need to be Christian to be British
Research into Christian nationalism, commissioned by the think tank Theos, suggests that few people think that you need to be Christian in order to be British. A similarly low figure say you need to be white to be British. Theos says this shows that “more recent anxieties about the UK being gripped by Christian nationalism are overblown”. The key factors in Britishness are said to be obeying the law, being committed to democracy and freedom of speech, speaking English and contributing economically. 45 per cent say that being born in Britain is important for being truly British. Dr Nick Spencer, senior fellow at Theos and lead researcher on the project, said: “We haven’t slid into aggressive ethno-nationalism, as some feared after Brexit. People in the UK still overwhelmingly lean towards a political/ civic idea of what it means to be British. But a political/civic idea of Britishness is always vulnerable, dependent on people having faith that the system works for them. If they lose that, say around issues like mass immigration or economic exclusion, it’s easy to see how more exclusive forms of nationalism might take hold.”
Rise in converts to Progressive Judaism
Adult conversions to Progressive Judaism in Britain have risen from 78 in 2020 to 183 in 2025, according to statistics published in The Guardian. Rabbi Jonathan Romain, convener of the Reform Beit Din, the rabbinic court for Progressive Judaism, is quoted saying that in the past, most converts did so because they had Jewish partners. But he believes the rise is down to the Covid-19 pandemic, the expansion of religious education in schools and DNA tests detecting a trace of Jewish ancestry. The article includes interviews with recent converts who say they are attracted to progressive Judaism because of the questioning of faith, acceptance of dialogue, the diverse welcoming nature of communities and the feeling that they are returning to their roots.
Pope urges greater multilateral action to alleviate hunger
Pope Leo XIV has urged governments to strengthen resources to combat hunger, saying that wars are being sustained more easily than people are being fed. Addressing the governing body of the UN World Food Programme in Rome, he said administrative barriers that slow humanitarian aid, add to a funding shortfall by the United States and other countries. Multilateralism is essential, he said, and basic needs like water, food, and healthcare cannot be subordinated to geopolitical interests.
36 year old man in court over Edinburgh attacks
Following attacks on five people in Edinburgh last week, a 36-year-old Scottish white man, Lewis Hawkes, has appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with five counts of attempted murder, assault and robbery, two accounts of breach of the peace, and two accounts of culpable and reckless conduct. All of the alleged offences were aggravated by having a terrorist connection. Hawkes made no plea and was remanded in custody. He will appear again within eight days.
