PRESS KIT:

“The far-right attention seeker who calls himself Tommy Robinson is trying to introduce Christian nationalism into the UK, holding a carol service in central London on Saturday 13th December under the slogan “Putting Christ Back Into Christmas”. He told his followers that this involves “drawing attention to unchecked immigration and the fading of our cultural heritage”.

Stand Up To Racism and Care 4 Calais are organising a counter-rally at 1pm on Saturday outside Downing Street. I’ll be there to sing a few songs. Here’s one I’ve just written to remind Tommy and his mates of the true meaning of Christmas, utilising the tune of the Scottish folk song ‘Come All Ye Tramps and Hawkers’.

PUT CHRIST BACK IN CHRISTMAS

Put Christ back into Christmas
The season of goodwill
Peace on earth for everyone
So let the bombs be still
Let the guns fall silent
Let the hungry be fed
And let the tyrants of the world
Lie uneasy in their beds

You want Christ back in Christmas
Yet you ignore his words
And live your life in selfishness
As if you’ve never heard
Of the Samaritan who stops to help
The stranger dressed in rags
You pay lip service to the Lord
While worshipping the flag

A flag won’t ask you what you’ve done
To help the poor survive
But Christ demands you cast away
The sin of national pride
Love they neighbour as thyself
And you will plainly see
That the true message of Christmas
Is one of empathy

In haste to vilify you forget
Christ was a refugee
King Herod’s murderous orders caused
His family to flee
Into the land of Egypt
Where their safety did lie
Would you refuse to let him in
And send him back to die?

God rest ye merry gentlemen
So drunken with dismay
You’d not be so belligerent
Should Christ come back today
If he were forced to choose a side
I tell you without doubt
That he’d embrace the refugee
And cast the fascist out

So come all you people of good faith
And listen to my song
If you have studied your holy book
You’ll know that it is wrong
To use the name of Jesus Christ
In order to divide
So stand with those who need the most
Goodwill at Christmastide”