May’s festive message praises Christianity... Corbyn sticks to Syria

THERESA May and Jeremy Corbyn used their traditional Christmas messages today to set out radically different political visions.

While the Prime Minister talked of heroism and the Armed Forces, Mr Corbyn spoke about homeless people and war-torn Yemen and Syria.

And while vicar’s daughter Mrs May urged Britain to ‘take pride in our Christian heritage,’ the Labour leader made no mention of religion at all.

In her seasonal message a year ago, Mrs May urged the UK to ‘come together’ in the wake of the Brexit vote.

This year, the Prime Minister made no mention of Brexit or the crises she has faced in a disastrous 12 months during which she lost her Commons majority and faced repeated threats to her premiership. But she did issue a rallying call to the nation, saying: ‘This Christmas, whatever our faith, let us come together confident and united in the values we share.’

Mrs May, pictured, who on Friday made a pre-Christmas visit to UK troops in Cyprus, paid tribute to the ‘humbling bravery and daily sacrifices’ of Armed Forces personnel.

She also saluted the emer- gency service ‘ heroes’ who dealt with the Grenfell Tower fire and the terror attacks in Manchester and London.

Mrs May praised volunteers who give up their time to ‘make someone else’s Christmas that little bit better’. And she added: ‘As we celebrate the birth of Christ, let us celebrate all those selfless acts – and countless others – that epitomise the values we share.’

Mr Corbyn highlighted the plight of those who were ‘cut off and lonely’ or in war-torn countries such as Yemen and Syria.

He said: ‘It’s a time of the year when we think about others, like those who have no home to call their own or who are sleeping rough.’

Labour sources defended Mr Corbyn’s failure to mention religion, saying: ‘It’s a concise message about the Christian spirit of compassion which is at the heart of our country and Christianity.’

They also stressed that he had issued his own separate Christmas message via Twitter to the Armed Forces on Friday.

But Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: ‘ Everyone agrees we should help the homeless but Christmas is not a time for cheap political digs. It is also regrettable that the Labour leader cannot bring himself to mention Christianity itself.’