THE VE Day commemorations have, quite naturally, focused on paying the respects of the nation to the last survivors of the Second World War. Alongside the nostalgia, great care has been taken to acknowledge the sacrifices of a generation — and more than one. A consistent message has been that this chapter of our history should never be forgotten. Speaking to BBC reporters, visitors to Monday’s events in London repeatedly spoke of the importance of bringing their children and grandchildren to the capital, so that they might understand the significance of events that must seem to have taken place in the unimaginably distant past.

This anniversary has fallen at a time when the global threat to democracy has rarely felt so real. The commemorations took place within days of the local elections in the UK, which produced dramatic results. Nigel Farage’s Reform party made sweeping gains, taking control of ten councils, winning two mayoral contests, and obtaining its fifth MP, by just six votes. Labour performed poorly, but the Conservatives experienced their worst local-election results on record. Their leader, Kemi Badenoch, has described the results as a “bloodbath” and agreed that it was “feasible” that Mr Farage could become the next Prime Minister — something that was, frankly, unthinkable at the last General Election.

Minor parties frequently make gains in mid-term elections. Startling though the wins were, it is worth remembering that in 2014, when Mr Farage was the leader of UKIP, and 2019, when he ran the Brexit Party, he won elections to the European Parliament. On both occasions, there was talk of a fracturing in British politics, but in neither instance did the General Election bear this out. Much may change over the next four years. For one thing, Reform will have had time to deliver — or not — on the election promises it has made in recent weeks, some of which are overly ambitious. The idea, for example, that Reform-led councils will be able to trim fat from their budgets is hard to believe in the light of the past 15 years of deep cuts: councils up and down the country are straining under the demands of providing children’s services and adult social care, even to the point of bankruptcy. It is also hard to see how they will have much impact on immigration.

Mr Farage presents himself as a friend and ally of Donald Trump. While the UK has seen a lurch to the Right in these elections, it is interesting that both Canada and Australia, in their recent General Elections, have moved unexpectedly in the other direction, both arguably in response to President Trump’s rhetoric. The safe conclusion to draw is that, once again, we live in globally turbulent times. There is a sense that almost anything can happen. All the people of God can do is watch, pray, and, by acts of service and speaking up for those on the margins, offer a glimmer of Easter hope.