Tory blogger and perfect charmer Iain Dale reported with satisfaction last week that the London mayor is fighting the good fight against dug-in remnants of Livingstonian "political correctness" at City Hall - a popular topic with Boris fans while they wait for him to do something memorable. First, we learned, The Blond had refused to allow last week's GLA Christmas Carol Service at Southwark cathedral to be called a multi-faith concert, then he "went ballistic" over an email sent by officials to Crisis, the charity for homeless people, asking that the Christmas tree it annually supplies to City Hall meet its "requirements as per previous years" which included following the "usual rules" of "no Christian symbols, colours or fairies!"
Checking out the story I was told that Boris is indeed intent on "putting Christ back into Christmas", and I now learn from London SE1 that the mayor's determination to impose "traditional" values on Christmas festivities extended to his choice of bible for his reading at the Southwark concert:
There was momentary confusion amongst the congregation when the Mayor began to read from the traditional language King James version ("the life was the light of men") rather than the inclusive New Revised Standard Version text ("the life was the light of all people") printed in the order of service.
Conservative agitation over the way Christmas is marked has, of course, itself become a Christmas tradition. No December would be complete without right-wing newspapers running flimsy scare stories about Christmas being "banned" by local authorities or indignant churchman complaining about cards that say "seasons greetings" (despite these being around since at least the late 1960s: I recall sending them as a child). And while I sympathise with Crisis finding their tree decorations somewhat neurotically proscribed, Boris's attitude and Iain's post are alike in revealing the usual flaws in the right's thinking on such themes.
There's the standard issue myopia about Christmas's place in British culture, which has been in a state of change for centuries. When attacking "political correctness" Iain shows a distinct ingratitude to those who've fought for four decades to enable gay men such as himself to enjoy socially-inclusive rights such as civil partnerships rather than being locked up in jails or mental institutions. And as is so often the case with those vociferously affronted by the "PC" threat to Christian custom, their adherence to the faith turns out to be decidedly dilute.
I emailed Iain several hours ago asking him if he defined himself as Christian. I've no doubt he'll be getting back to me soon. As for Boris - excuse me while I rummage for the appropriate form of words - I understand from very senior sources at City Hall that while certainly not an atheist, he might be best described as "a cultural Christian" or simply as agnostic.
Now I don't mind people - or politicians for that matter - being full of contradictions, but if you're going to beat a drum for an old time religion it doesn't help if you don't really believe in it. What's more, I'd argue that Boris, like Tories in general, has his head on backwards on this issue. What better way to persuade those many Londoners with roots in non-Christian cultures to enjoy and participate in the Great British Christmas than by adding to its traditions in ways that make it more welcoming? It's a simple and generous philosophy. You might even call it Christian.
