Clegg calls for “fairer” world in Christmas message

Taking the 1914 Christmas truce in the trenches during the First World War as his theme, the Sheffield Hallam MP says that while Christmas is a time of joy for Christians, its values unite people of all faiths.

“This Christmas and beyond, we can each do our bit to help secure the fairer, more peaceful world that the soldiers in 1914 longed for and our children deserve: reaching out to those people – wherever they may be - who feel isolated, who are caught up in conflict or who need our help,” he says.

In his Christmas message, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles urged people not to forget the reason for celebrating Christmas.

“The Christian faith is the backbone of local communities across the country and is at the heart of our national life.

“Whilst in Britain today, everyone has the chance to worship freely our thoughts and prayers should turn to Christians being persecuted for their faith in foreign countries.

“Treating others with fairness, tolerance and respect, helping those less fortunate, and striving to achieve the very best are just a few values which spring from the Christian ethos that flows through our great nation.

“And we should all be immensely proud of the continuing role that the Christian faith continues to play in the United Kingdom,” he said.