Unite the Kingdom Christmas Carol Service 2025 Review

 

On Saturday 13th December, Unite the Kingdom organised an xmas carol service in Whitehall, London with Tommy Robinson speaking (among others).

Somehow I found myself watching the whole event on YouTube courtesy of some kind Tommy Robinson supporter. I would have gone in person, but as no-one commissioned me, I was just watching out of interest. I guess I was in attendance. Attendance, in my case, does not mean support.

This is an alternative blog, so you'll have to tolerate any slight aberrations in the journalistic ether.

However. You may want to know how many people were there. I'd estimate there were just over 600 people. The performers on the tiny stage were more diverse than the crowd... who, to be fair on them, were not violent, despite being sandwiched by police between a protest against digital ID cards and a counterprotest by Stand Up to Racism.

There was nothing slick about anything I saw and I didn't feel it was purposefully unprofessional - I think they were probably saving resources. The small stage was decorated with lights, tinsel, baubles and two large crosses to the left and to the right. 

I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Violence? Overt racism? I still do not know what 'Auditors' are and I wasn't entirely convinced that the man who said he was going to get some M&Ms after the 'service' was really going to get some chocolate. I shouldn't joke about all that, the drug problem in the UK is very, very real.

Anyway - the service was led by a worship group and the Christian patriots were out in force with the 'Christ is King' signs and huge crosses. Online (at least on my feed, there were a further 5000 or so watching, wise enough to keep away from possible violence and the cold). 

There was some debate in the lead up about whether or not the whole thing was a protest or a simple carol concert. But it was no more simply a carol concert than electroshock therapy remains simply a therapy.

Tommy Robinson arrived treated like a celebrity. It got worse. My mind gets a little esoteric at times (as I still have mental health problems which God has seen fit not to heal). So I wasn't terribly sure who they were talking about when they said someone was God incarnate. By the end of the whole thing, I felt sure they meant Tommy Robinson was. They almost made me a believer.

I didn't see any violence. If there were arrests, I missed them. And the service/protest followed a typical church service format. Singing. Sermons (from the 'patriot priests/preachers' or whatever they are getting called (and basking in)). Testimonies from people. Who is 'Young Bob'? I don't know. I've not had time to research - people there liked him though and want him for PM. Is he Very Important? Maybe he is a John the Baptist type figure? By this time I had entered full madness and was unable to do more than watch, like the lefty loon I so clearly am.

A question arose from deep within. 'Hold on. Robinson claims that he has become a believer while in prison and I somehow have my doubts, so what has he got to say about that?' 

And yes, he said, "I used to hate the Church." I only had my paper and pen nearby, being so under-resourced, so I tried to jot down what he said. But some random person (no person is random) on the feed which was going as batsh*t crazy as my mind, wrote "Tommy Robinson is definitely a messenger of God" and this may have set me off to full-blown insanity (again).

I did my breathing exercises and fought off my demons and managed to retain something resembling humanity. 

"So glad I'm a British Christian" said one speaker giving a testimony. I had some sympathy. Why can't we be as patriotic as so many of the Americans? Why can't we be proud of our country? Bloody lefties and their insistence on criticism of country. Let's complain about the complainers!

There was talk about protecting children, and then, weirdly, a reading from the Bible about how Christ, as a baby, was a refugee in the nativity story (having to seek safe-haven in Egypt). It seemed counter-productive to various agendas in context. 

Then it went full-on Elmer Gantry with one of the preachers saying, "You're not a jumped-up monkey!"

"Every other religion says 'do, do, do' but Christ crucified says 'done, done, done!'" they said (before telling everyone to pray more). 

"Christ wants to step into your hearts tonight, patriots."

Which I thought was sweet as the 'flyer' had said that this whole event would herald a Christian revival in the UK and, I dunno, the quiet revival could do with a boost and, as I have said before, must, by necessity be as inclusive as the gospel. Which, again to be fair to them, was preached at least in word. Though sadly not in action.

"Do you have space in your heart for Christ?" 

Yes Sir! And asylum seekers, Muslims, Jews and refugees. Yes Sir!

"We see an agenda to take Christ out of everything" said another speaker. Then they said that we should all go to find a church where we are wanted, except for the C of E they said, who do not want any of us.

See, you wouldn't get this stuff on the BBC.

Now I need to go to lie down in a darkened room again (seriously, try it, it's self-care).

I'm unlikely to blog here again before the new year, so will end my review with my rating, a final word and a question.

Two out of five stars from me (an extra star for the lack of violence but a loss of three stars for the lack of the promised full-blown revival).

Question - If Tommy Robinson is really now a believer, then why hasn't he stepped down from his position, as his conscience should ask him to?

Happy xmas all.

Check out my other current blog which relates to this story...

www.christianrevival.uk

 

Under the shadow of 'king' Starmer

As they always say - it doesn't matter who you vote for, the Government always get in.

When will the people win?

Labour's honeymoon period being well and truly over, I thought it would be the right time to write my thoughts on their performance so far...

The latest crime figures from the ONS say that crime is sort of down a bit. Apart from fraud. Not much comfort if you've been a victim of crime though.

Plus, obviously, the whole country is glitchy and nothing works as it should (apart from so many of the charities which remain a kind of symbol of hope in the nightmare of a seemingly never-ending dark night).

Some of us aren't afraid of the dark though (just the things that are in it). 

The trouble with Starmer and the shadow of the present regime is that they not only have made so few changes to help the poor and vulnerable, but that, as with every left-leaning government, they are very much into their 'Big Government' thing where they want to know everything you do, say and (seemingly) even think. It's a power thing. Blair has somehow re-emerged too concerning ID cards. Even the first time round when some of us fought off the concept (myself after becoming disillusioned with him) he must have been brooding in his lair, licking and planning for part two of this sinister plan.

Nothing to fear, nothing to hide, I always say (or something like that). 

There is so much that the present Government could do to make things better for people. Off the top of my head, how about funding hospices fully, instead of one third?

They've barely even made an attempt to reverse some of the things that the previous regime did. No wonder people are turning to Reform UK Ltd (Yes, they are a business, not a party and yes, they don't really care about us).

My advice, during these dark times under so many shadows? Carry on surviving. And if you really must turn to patriotism, remember that it is the last refuge of the scoundrel.

When will the people win? Or at least control the agenda?

My diagnoses and some thoughts

For anyone interested in what my specific mental health problems are - and in the hope of helping those with similar problems, I can say that I've been diagnosed with anxiety and depression.

It is all a long story, but, in a nutshell, my conviction is that the drugs which I took as a student resulted in these problems. I've always and continue to maintain this.

Hence, I remain against the current proposals to use LSD particularly in treating mental health problems. These proposals come following proven doubt about the efficacy of antidepressants (which I do take anyway). 

The argument against me, and those like me (as I'm not alone), from many professional medical staff and others, is that I took drugs because I was attempting to self-medicate existing conditions. So why did I effectively go into a drug-induced psychosis during the worst of my drug use and then experience the resulting serious problems only afterwards?

The fact is that drug dealers totally agree with many of the professionals on this topic. I wonder why this is?

For the record, I've never once said that the cannabis I also took as a student caused the problems, but that the LSD and party drugs that I took did.

I've never been healed by Christ from these mental health problems (despite my asking and wanting to (it's hardly a comfortable problem to have)), but I've found that he continues to be a lot more understanding, accepting, loving and helpful through it all than some.

What has been less helpful, in the Christian community, has been the times I've been told to my face (and online) I'm demon-possessed. It's just annoying.

Anyway, as you can see, I'm mad as a box of toads and have the certificate to prove it. ☺

My thoughts on the UK's drug crisis

 

“Just what is it that you want to do?”

“We wanna be free
We wanna be free to do what we wanna do
And we wanna get loaded
And we wanna have a good time
And that's what we're gonna do.”

From the film ‘The Wild Angels’ (and Primal Scream sample on ‘Loaded’)

The multi-million pound drug abuse problem in this country is so huge and I know of no solution to it apart from a radical change in lifestyle (which is what I had to do). I took drugs back in the 90s, during the height of the rave scene, when I was at uni, but haven't done so since I became a believer. I took LSD, ecstasy, amphetamines, ketamine and had cocaine available (I was spared heroin and fentanyl... other modern drugs were not around). My dealers had guns and knives which they would place on tables before we scored.

As I write this, I'm watching a TV show in which they are asking 'Should all drugs be decriminalised in the UK?' No, they shouldn't (except perhaps for palliative care), but something needs to change. There is a very good argument for the legalisation of cannabis, but on this I am neutral. I’m not likely to say a word for or against it. Although at the very least it should easily be available for the dying. It certainly helped my brother.

Why take them? The main reason people take them is to alleviate suffering and enhance pleasure - the same reason a person may reach for a drink. That's the underlying reason. The 'God-shaped hole' may not be filled by these things, but when you want or need some kind of peace or high, you don't care so much about the longevity of it. Although the shocker for me was to read that cocaine only gives you a 30-minute high (although I imagine this can be extended). If you understand why you might reach for a drink, you understand why you might reach for drugs. The first time you take them; it often really is a mountain-top experience of a kind. The valleys and chasms come later.

It is such a huge, real problem and we are massively unequipped to deal with it. If there were a full Christian revival here then drug use would decrease, as evidenced from the past when even drunkenness decreased, but there is simply not (although there are rumours and facts that there is at least, a start) and so it might be that all we can do on this one for now is to live by example. I simply do not know the solution except for what worked for me which was a huge change in lifestyle. But no-one using wants to hear that.

If a street cleaner hadn't had mercy on me and told me about God's love then I would not be writing these words here now. That was the message – God loves you – God is love, as evidenced by the cross. I know of no other good news. It is still true enough for you and I but brings some obvious and legitimate questions. It is never too late.

Unfortunately, some believers also use illegal drugs and this is a problem too. ‘People in stained-glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’ and all that. The reasons are the same as before - I'm not saying they aren't Christians, and I understand the motivation, but it is far from ideal, isn't it? Especially because it is as far away from 'fair trade' as you can get - with people getting murdered in the drug supply and organised crime wars. I would suggest the solution is the same – a radical change of lifestyle. Maybe weaning off works, I’m not sure, but it didn’t work for me.

And as writers, some of us are often vulnerable to such things - I am certainly still tempted and have not been healed of the desire. After all, where in the Bible does it say that we shouldn't take illegal drugs? Except, unfortunately, it is clear from the mouth of Christ himself who warned against all kinds of drunkenness and intoxication. How does intoxication affect God though? It probably doesn't but it affects us and can destroy our lives and relationships and God prefers to see people not dying, I imagine. If, indeed, he is love.

Something needs to change as the problem is very real here in the UK and it literally is life and death. As I say, in my case the solution was not to wean myself off them but to abstain completely and change my lifestyle radically. It’s basically my ongoing fast.

For those who take drugs to seek some kind of meaning in life (as opposed to the hedonists), I understand the motivation. Looking for unconditional love is probably not going to be found on the devil’s ground though. But, it’s a fair question – if we have such a short life, and after we die, we become nothing (or worse), then why shouldn’t we have such intense pleasure before we die? ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’ as has been said. I think the answer to that is because the whole multi-billion trade system is absolutely devastating in terms of its destruction. Plus, we are likely to hasten the oblivion through our own deaths and destroyed relationships…and the crime… and debt… and the murders… and worse.

I remember, when I was using, making an argument that I was not harming anyone but myself – and I had free will and all that (we always think we are free whoever we are, just as we all think we are ‘awake’). So, I was gullible and naïve along with all the rest. And when it all went wrong – which it did, and I was intensely suffering (I cannot forget how awful that time was). When I fell into the chasm from the mountain top, I realised how wrong I had been.

My conviction is that the stronger drugs I took caused my lifetime mental health problems. Maybe not cannabis but certainly LSD did. I was not self-medicating at the time. That's why I think it is such a bad idea to treat mental health problems with acid or LSD. Because it makes everything worse and can even cause PTSD.

I don’t take drugs anymore. I struggle with a lot of temptations. But something in the UK has to change – it is at a stage where more official drug-use facilities cannot make anything worse. Where the antidote to heroin overdose should be widely available. Where the root causes of drug-use are tackled – and those root causes are often simply that life in this country can be so grindingly awful that we crave peace, comfort, pleasure and an alleviation of suffering.

A Quiet Revival in the UK?

I debated with myself what to write after months not placing anything here. In the end, I decided not to talk about the way that the Labour Government are acting more right wing than the Tories - cutting benefits and making things harder for the poor, the disabled and the mentally ill. Instead I wanted to link to a new blog I am writing after news that there may be a possible 'quiet revival' with Christianity in the UK. 

I've been researching the topic for a while now - since back in 2000. It is fascinating. 

For those of you so inclined, here is the blog link and the introductory video which I created...

https://www.christianrevival.uk/

This blog is basically an alternative news source. It will be a weekly blog about a report which I have been researching for over 25 years...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHT7snCRiMY

Technology seems to be against me with all this... resistentialism... 'Les choses sont contre nous'.

However, it is important. Please take a look at the link.

My Prayer Strike is Over

Some of you will know that following my brother’s death from a brain tumour on Christmas Day 2022, I started a prayer strike and blogged about it each week for a year.

I literally refused to speak to God for over a year. I gave him the same silent treatment he gives so many of us. It cannot be wrong if he does it, can it?

After stopping the blogs, I said I would update you on any news, especially concerning any answered prayer and also wondered if I would be an atheist by the end of the year. I remain a believer.

There have been no answered prayers though. My strike was, as I explicitly said, partly an attempt to get God to answer my past prayers. It didn’t work, it seems only his manipulations are efficacious. Not only that, in many ways, things got even worse. There was very little of the promised comfort and very little of the promised peace following my brother’s death.

However, by 2024 I had started to say short angry prayers to God. I was effectively in some kind of talks. These were prayers in which I expressed my anger towards God for all he had allowed (I admit he had not caused it, but neither had he intervened).

I had been counselled to do so and I gave in and raged against God. Over the months I gave many sore and injured looks up to the sky and began to control my anger towards God. With the support of family and friends, who I thank, I re-entered talks.

So, I am now saying brief prayers, even though they are only for a couple of minutes a day. Occasionally saying grace before meals and things like that, a few seconds prayer in the morning and a few seconds before I sleep.

The strike is over and I am in talks with God.

I still refuse to take communion. It feels to me like my last bargaining chip and I’m happy to remain in the bargaining stage of grief. This will not change until all my prayers are answered satisfactorily.

The irony of irony

I have rewritten the blurb to my book Irony because I realised I had rushed the original blurb and it didn't accurately reveal what is in the book. As this book seems more pertinent than ever, I've also decided to blog about it. The cover art is one of my brother's amazing watercolour paintings (which he was happy for me to use).

Here's the new description:

Have you ever considered that the very act of questioning God's existence might be laced with irony? In this captivating non-fiction work, the author presents a unique and intriguing idea: that irony itself could be a subtle hint at the presence of a higher power.

Literary masters like Voltaire have long used irony to challenge spiritual beliefs, but what if this obscured the true irony - that God, with a playful wink, uses irony to invite us to seek him?

This book extends an invitation to explore faith from a fresh and captivating perspective. It is tailored for agnostics, seekers and doubters who grapple with reconciling the concept of a benevolent God within a world replete with negative ironies. It offers an original, practical and contemporary take on an age-old dilemma.

By embracing a broader understanding of irony, encompassing hypocrisy, serendipity, and those moments of 'crazy bad luck', the author illuminates how even in our sophisticated, post-ironic age, irony can serve as compelling evidence for a benevolent deity.

The notion that irony, so often associated with misfortune and contradiction, isn't, in fact, evidence for a malevolent God is also explored. How can these two seemingly disparate concepts coexist? The answer lies within these pages, and it is well worth discovering.

While this book won't provide easy answers to the age-old problem of suffering, nor promise worldly riches or viral fame, it dares to ask: why do you feel compelled to pick it up and yet, somehow, unable to take the plunge?
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Embark on this intellectual journey to challenge your preconceptions, engage with fresh insights and uncover a perspective that just might illuminate the existence of a God who is far more intriguing than you ever imagined.


If you are interested in this book, please take a look - it's available in print and as an ebook from here.