David Cameron Says Britain 'Should Do God'

Britain should be more confident about being a Christian country and use faith to "get out there and make a difference to people's lives", David Cameron has said.

In his strongest comments on his faith yet, the Prime Minister admits he, like many, does not manage to attend church regularly.

But he says it is time for the church to play a greater role in politics and society.

His comments, in an article for the Church Times, follow a number of run-ins with prominent Christian figures about the Government's welfare reforms.

Mr Cameron said: "I believe we should be more confident about our status as a Christian country, more ambitious about expanding the role of faith-based organisations, and, frankly, more evangelical about a faith that compels us to get out there and make a difference to people's lives.

"First, being more confident about our status as a Christian country does not somehow involve doing down other faiths or passing judgment on those with no faith at all.

"Many people tell me it is easier to be Jewish or Muslim in Britain than in a secular country precisely because the tolerance that Christianity demands of our society provides greater space for other religious faiths, too.

"Crucially, the Christian values of responsibility, hard work, charity, compassion, humility, and love are shared by people of every faith and none - and we should be confident in standing up to defend them."

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster was critical of welfare reform

Mr Cameron said he had "felt at first hand the healing power of the Church's pastoral care" and Christians knew how "powerful faith can be in the toughest of times".

Earlier this year the church intervened in politics when 27 Anglican bishops wrote an open letter to warn thousands of people were being forced to rely on food banks because of the coalition's benefit reforms. It followed sharp criticism from Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols.

In his article, Mr Cameron acknowledged that welfare was "controversial".

However, he defended his stance saying: "I sometimes feel not enough is made of our efforts to tackle poverty. Of course, we have been through some tough economic times in turning our country around over the past few years."

Mr Cameron's attempt to reintroduce religion into politics is starkly at odds with that of former Downing Street incumbent Tony Blair, whose former spin doctor memorably said: "We don't do God."

In 2008, Mr Cameron said that, as Boris Johnson had once said, "his religious faith is a bit like the reception for Magic FM in the Chilterns: it sort of comes and goes".

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