CHRISTIANITY provides a blueprint for social improvement, the Labour Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, has said.

Writing in this issue of the Church Times, he says: “For all the loss and difficulty, we should not let this year be defined by pain. Throughout this pandemic, we have also seen the best of humanity.”

He goes on to note that, during the pandemic, “religious institutions and local communities have banded together for the common good, showing us the very best of Britain”. This has been evident in donations to foodbanks, delivering food to neighbours, and contacting the self-isolated via phone.

Sir Keir argues that “the best of British values” that have surfaced in the response to the pandemic “are also the best of Christian values”.

He continues: “The Christian community has always been at the forefront of social activism, seeking justice and speaking truth to power.

“As we move towards 2021, we must look to these fundamental lessons of Christianity as a blueprint to build a better society for everyone.”

In the article, Sir Keir also praises frontline workers, including NHS staff and scientists who have developed Covid-19 vaccines.

When he was elected Labour leader in April, Sir Keir pledged to draw on Christians in the Labour Party (News, 9 April).

His predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, spoke openly about the influence of Christianity on Labour. Writing in the Church Times before the General Election last December, he said that the party’s values aligned with Matthew 25, which taught “that we are judged by how we treat the most vulnerable people among us” (News, Comment 6 December 2019).

Read the full comment from Sir Keir Starmer here