Christmas is for Everyone
"Christmas is a time for us all to commemorate and reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ. After all, the word Christmas originates in the old English ‘Cristes maesse’ – ‘Christ’s mass’. Christmas is a celebration for everyone, but we must always remember that our Christian heritage in Britain is the foundation of our constitution and laws, our customs and traditions. That is something we all need to appreciate and defend, for it is our Christian belief in freedom and tolerance that gives people of all religions the right to worship and be accepted without fear.
I was christened at St. Edward’s Church in Romford Market and this is where Christ’s message of peace, love and good will to all men can be heard this Christmas, along with all the wonderful local churches in our town whose doors are always open to welcome you this Christmastide, from Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist to United Reformed, Salvation Army and Evangelical, there a church for everyone in Romford. It is Jesus’s message of sacrifice that I aim to follow through the honour of serving and representing my cherished constituency of Romford. I have much enjoyed attending all the Christmas events in Romford and Hornchurch over the past weeks. Our sense of community in Havering remains incredibly strong. Having grown up in Romford and lived here all my life, I am pleased that the warmth and caring nature of our town and its people has never changed.
Christmas is a time when we should all come together to celebrate the good and great traditions that we have always upheld in this country, without them ever being questioned before. Sadly, today there appears to be some who seek to undermine such traditions, cast doubt and spread negativity in some kind of ideological attempt to strip us of our national character. Wishing someone a “Merry Christmas” is not inclusive enough these days, so I am told! I do not go along with any of this. It’s divisive nonsense. We must never rest in defending what makes us British and that includes our magnificent Christmas traditions. I will always stand strong in defence of our culture, traditions and national way of life that our forebears fought to protect, so that we could inherit them today.
On Christmas Day at 3.00 p.m., our King will speak to the Nation and the Commonwealth. A moment for us all to pause and think of the greater purpose that the British people have always played in building a better world for all of humanity. I say, God Save The King and a very Merry Christmas and a blessed new year to you and all your family!"
