UK Government Praises Church Volunteers as "Backbone of Country" While Criminalizing Christian Prayer and Forcing Christian Schools to Close
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised church volunteers and Christian faith at a Downing Street reception, calling them "the backbone of our country" and stating they "are doing us all proud" while describing church volunteers as "the true Britain," even as his government simultaneously prosecutes Christians for silent prayer and implements tax policies forcing Christian schools to close across the nation.
Speaking in an interview with Premier Christian News, Starmer, Britain's first openly atheist prime minister, acknowledged the importance of Christian values and faith in providing reassurance during times of insecurity. Starmer stated that faith serves as "a north star" and "a sort of solid point" for people seeking security, while emphasizing the government's desire to work in partnership with churches and volunteer organizations to address national challenges.
The praise came as the Prime Minister launched the Civil Society Covenant at Number 10 in July 2025, recognizing faith groups as essential partners in tackling Britain's challenges. Starmer reflected fondly on support his family received from his mother's church in her final days, acknowledging "how powerful Christian faith can be" as "an agent of transformation."
However, Starmer's government has simultaneously pursued policies critics characterize as hostile to Christian practice and education. Isabel Vaughan Spruce, a Christian charitable volunteer, was criminally charged in December 2024 under new national buffer zone legislation for standing silently outside an abortion facility in Birmingham where she had prayed for twenty years. This marked the first prosecution under Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023, which prohibits "influencing any person's decision to access, provide or facilitate abortion services" within 150 meters of abortion clinics.
Vaughan Spruce was previously arrested twice for silent prayer in 2022 and 2023, acquitted both times, and received £13,000 compensation from West Midlands Police in August 2024 for wrongful arrest and breach of her human rights. Police explicitly told Vaughan Spruce that "prayer is an offence" during her arrests. Despite court vindication and police compensation, West Midlands Police now post two officers to watch Vaughan Spruce pray weekly, regularly approaching to ask if she is praying.
The Attorney General confirmed to Parliament on December 16, 2024 that Crown Prosecution Service issued proceedings under the new buffer zone law in relation to one case, Vaughan Spruce's prosecution representing the first test of whether silent prayer constitutes criminal influence under national legislation. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman raised parliamentary questions about the case, expressing concern about criminalization of thought.
Labour's VAT policy on private school fees, implemented January 1, 2025, has forced multiple Christian schools to close despite legal challenges arguing the policy unlawfully discriminates against families seeking Christian education. The policy adds 20% VAT to private school fees, disproportionately affecting small Christian schools serving families in deprived areas who choose faith based education not for wealth but for values alignment.
Christian schools including Emmanuel School in Derby, Branch Christian School in Yorkshire, and King's School in Hampshire launched judicial review proceedings, arguing the unprecedented taxation of education violates human rights by preventing parents from raising children according to Christian beliefs. Stephen White, a Bradford bookseller living in one of the city's most deprived areas to afford Bradford Christian School for his four children, stated the policy forces families to choose between homeschooling or "compromising our faith."
The High Court acknowledged the VAT policy would disproportionately affect families in the bottom half of income distribution, displacing 3,000 pupils immediately, but declined to intervene citing Parliament's discretion on taxation. Schools subsequently won permission to appeal in October 2025, with hearings expected in coming months. Christian Legal Centre representatives stated the policy represents broader government attempts to control what children learn, eliminating diversity of thought and belief in education.
Starmer's comments acknowledging Christian contribution to British society occurred against this backdrop of government actions critics characterize as criminalizing Christian expression and eliminating Christian educational choice through financial pressure. Former Cabinet Minister Lord Frost stated regarding Vaughan Spruce's case that "it is incredible that people have been arrested for thoughtcrime in modern Britain," warning that criminalizing silent prayer threatens "not just freedom of speech but freedom of thought."
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
Starmer praises Christians. Then criminalizes them for praying.
He calls church volunteers "the backbone of our country." Then his government prosecutes Isabel Vaughan Spruce for standing silently outside an abortion clinic. For the third time.
Police told her "prayer is an offence." She was arrested. Twice. Acquitted. Twice. Compensated £13,000 for wrongful arrest. And now? Criminally charged again under new national law.
Two police officers watch her pray every week. They approach and ask if she's praying. This is Britain in 2025.
Starmer says Christian faith is "really important" and "powerful." His government taxes Christian schools out of existence. Small schools in deprived areas. Families who sacrifice everything to raise children with Christian values. Forced to close or face 20% VAT that wealthy secular schools can absorb but faithful schools cannot.
The government admits 3,000 children will be displaced immediately. They know Christian families will be forced into secular state schools where their faith is marginalized. They don't care.
This is the definition of two tier Britain. Praise Christians publicly. Prosecute them privately. Celebrate their volunteerism. Criminalize their convictions. Acknowledge their contribution. Eliminate their schools.
Starmer wants Christian labor without Christian liberty. He wants the benefits of faith without the freedom to practice it. He wants volunteers to fix Britain's problems while his government systematically dismantles Christian presence in public life.
You cannot criminalize prayer and simultaneously celebrate faith. You cannot force Christian schools to close and claim you value Christian education. You cannot prosecute believers for their thoughts and pretend you respect religious freedom.
This is not partnership. This is exploitation.
Britain arrests Christians for silent prayer while Starmer drinks wine at Downing Street receptions praising church volunteers. The hypocrisy is staggering. The danger is existential.
TAKE ACTION
Support Isabel Vaughan Spruce: Alliance Defending Freedom UK Website: https://adfinternational.org/en-gb Email: info@adfinternational.org Donate to her legal defense against thought crime prosecution
Support Christian Schools: Christian Legal Centre Website: https://christianconcern.com Phone: +44 (0)20 3327 1120 Email: info@christianconcern.com Support legal challenges to discriminatory VAT policy
Contact UK Government: Prime Minister's Office: +44 (0)20 7930 4433 Email via: https://www.gov.uk/contact Message: "Stop prosecuting Christians for silent prayer. Reverse VAT policy destroying Christian schools. Your words praising faith ring hollow when your actions criminalize believers."
Contact Your MP: Find your MP: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons Demand they oppose criminalization of silent prayer and discriminatory taxation of Christian education
Support Affected Families: March for Life UK (Isabel Vaughan Spruce's organization) Provides support for pro life Christians facing legal persecution
Start Conversations: Ask: "Why does the UK government praise Christians as 'the backbone of the country' while simultaneously prosecuting them for silent prayer and forcing Christian schools to close through punitive taxation?"
Document and Share: Record instances of anti Christian government action. Share on social media. Tag journalists and MPs. Force public acknowledgment of the hypocrisy between Starmer's words and his government's deeds.
