Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer have each issued a solemn Christmas message to the nation expressing grief over the heartache of families who have lost a loved one to COVID this year.
That prime minister, who says a coronavirus booster jab would be a “wonderful” Christmas present, has called for thanks to those who care for people who have lost loved ones and who would otherwise be alone.
And Work manager have talked about families who have suffered “unimaginable losses” this year and said that for many families there will be one chair less at the table for the Christmas meal.
Sir Keir Starmer laments how ‘too many families have experienced unimaginable losses’
A similar theme has been adopted by the Liberal Democratic leader, Sir Ed Davey, which says that too many families are separated this Christmas, and too many are grieving over the loss of a loved one.
Scotland’s Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, which this week announced tough new COVID curbs for Christmas and afterwards, has apologized that it will not be a “normal Christmas”.
Unusually, the two main party leaders have chosen a message that is more religious in tone than is typical of high-ranking politicians even at this time of year, both with direct reference to the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Prime Minister, who is not known for having strong religious beliefs, even goes so far as to suggest that being stabbed against COVID is in line with the teachings of Christ because it is to be a good neighbor.
The Christmas messages, in which both leaders also unusually steer clear of party politics, come after a couple of turbulent weeks in which Mr Johnson’s and Sir Keir’s fortunes have been turned upside down.
The Prime Minister has been subjected to a COVID dampening uprising by 100 Tory MPs, lost a by-election to Lib Dems in a seat with a nearly 23,000 Conservative majority, and seen one of his closest Brexit allies is leaving the government.
As a result, according to YouGov, Labor now has a six-point lead, Mr Johnson’s approval rating is as bad as Theresa Mays’ just before she was ousted, and Sir Keir’s lead over the Prime Minister is his biggest as Labor leader.
Nicola Sturgeon apologizes for not having a ‘normal Christmas’
After defying calls to impose more COVID curbs in England this week or immediately after Christmas, the Prime Minister declares in his Christmas statement: “After two years of this pandemic, I can not say that we are through with it.
“How can I? When Omicron rises, when we all know it, we must together try to stop the spread of this new variant.
“We need to test ourselves and take extra care when meeting elderly or vulnerable relatives.”
He urges the nation to “lift our glasses to those who can not be with us”, and praises “the tremendous spirit of neighborhood that the people of this country have shown”.
And he continues: “Being not only for themselves, for ourselves, but for friends and family and everyone we meet.
“And it is, after all, the doctrine of Jesus Christ whose birth is at the heart of this great feast – that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
“And then let’s think of all those who are good neighbors and think of others.
“All those in the NHS who work at Christmas, our caregivers, all involved in the incredible vaccination campaign.
“Those who care for people who have lost their loved ones this year and who would otherwise be alone.
“The many thousands of people who are selflessly self-isolating to keep others safe from COVID.
“And even though the time to buy gifts is theoretically running out, there is still a wonderful thing you can give your family and the whole country.
“And it’s getting that plug, whether it’s your first or second, or your booster. So next year’s festivities are even better than this year’s.”
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Sir Keir says that in addition to celebrating the birth of Christ, Christmas is also a time for reflection and regrets: “Too many families have experienced an unimaginable loss.
“For far too many, there will be one less chair at the table for the Christmas meal. But in the darkest times, Christian values of kindness, compassion, and hope have shone through.”
In a short message, the Lib Dem leader says: “Too many families are separated this Christmas. Too many are mourning the loss of a loved one.
“But the message of Christmas is a hope, a light that can save us from the darkness. Christians like me believe that the hope, that light, can sustain us through the darkest times.”
And Mrs Sturgeon, after announcing tough new coronavirus restrictions in Scotland, says: ‘I know that even three or four weeks ago we were all looking forward to a pretty normal Christmas.
“I’m so sorry this year is not going to be quite like that. But for many of us, because of vaccination it will still be more normal than last year.”
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