Theresa May: 'Let us take pride in our Christian heritage'

"Let us take pride in our Christian heritage", Theresa May has said, as she paid tribute to the armed forces and emergency services in her Christmas message. 

The Prime Minister thanked "all those whose service to others means they will be spending time away from their loved ones this Christmas". 

The response to terror attacks in Manchester and London earlier this year, and to the Grenfell Tower disaster, "inspired the nation", she said. 

But the action of the emergency services "saves lives in our communities every day, including Christmas Day," she added. 

She also paid tribute to volunteer projects such as the Churches Together initiative which combines the efforts of different Christian denominations to respond to issues such as the refugee crisis, as well as aid workers abroad. 

She also called on the public to stand up for the right for people to "speak about and practice their beliefs in peace and safety". 

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: Christian values of love, service and compassion that are lived out every day in our country by people all faiths and none.

"Let us take pride in our Christian heritage and the confidence it gives us to ensure that in Britain you can practice your faith free from question or fear.

"Let us remember those around the world today who have been denied those freedoms – from Christians in some parts of the Middle East to the sickening persecution of the Rohingya Muslims."

Earlier this week she declared that Islamic State had been "crushed" in Syria and Iraq, telling servicemen and women at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus that they should be "very proud" of the achievement. 

She told the troops: “It is you, your professionalism, your courage and your sacrifices that give meaning to the pledges we make as a nation. It is you who take down our enemies and stand by our allies when the going gets tough.”

May, a vicar's daughter and regular churchgoer, has previously spoken of the influence of her Christian faith. 

Earlier this year she told Christian radio station Premier that faith "guides me in everything I do". 

In a poll carried out by the station she was voted the party leader most like Jesus. 

Profile | Theresa May

She has also spoken of how her Christian faith helped her cope with the loss of her parents when she was just 25. 

In his own Christmas message Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urged people to think about others who are "cut off and lonely" or living in war-torn nations at Christmas.

The MP for Islington North used his second Christmas message to highlight Britain's pride in being a "compassionate nation".

"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 on our streets.

"We think about those who feel cut off and lonely. Many older citizens to whom we owe so much will be spending what should be a time of joy alone," he said. 

He added that his "Christmas wish" would be "that we all do more to help bring about the kind of society and world we want to live in".