𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Keir Starmer has admitted Easter “comes at a time of real anxiety for many people” as the Iran war hits the economy and pushes up costs.

The Prime Minister insisted Britain is “at its best when we choose community over division” in his message to the nation.

Sir Keir said: “This Easter comes at a time of real anxiety for many people. Conflicts abroad, pressures at home, and uncertainty about the future weigh heavily on families and households. In moments like these, faith offers reassurance and grounding – a reminder that we are not alone, and that hope can still take root even in difficult soil.

“For generations, churches have been rooted in their neighbourhoods, working to combat poverty, fear and isolation. In times when some seek to divide, the Government is committed to working across faiths and differences to build a country that is more resilient, inclusive and connected.

“Our country is at its best when we choose community over division, kindness over indifference, and service over self‑interest.

“I thank everyone who gives their time through churches and Christian charities, and wish Christians across the UK and around the world a very happy Easter filled with peace, hope and the promise of new life.”

Britons are braced for a cost-of-living squeeze as conflict in the Middle East and a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas is shipped, sends global oil prices skyrocketing.

Fuel duty is frozen until September, with the increase scheduled for then under review as a result of the high prices, and average household energy bills are predicted to rise when Ofgem’s current price cap expires at the end of June.

Meanwhile Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch used her message to say Easter is a “moment of hope”.

She added: “In a world that can often feel uncertain, perhaps even bleak, with conflicts the Middle East, and Ukraine, and challenges at home, that message matters more than ever.

“Across the country, we also see the cultural value of Christianity in the quiet, everyday impact of that faith in acts of kindness, service, and sacrifice in our communities. I wish Christians and all people across the United Kingdom a very happy Easter.”