Don't be a scrooge, Christians tell Chancellor

Alan Pinch (l) and Stephen Pennells (r) will be delivering a copy of A Christmas Carol to the Chancellor (Photo: Graham Martin)

Anti-poverty campaigners will be delivering a copy of the Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to George Osborne.

Alan Pinch, a Quaker, Stephen Pennells, a Roman Catholic, and Graham Martin, an Anglican, are all supporters of Church Action on Poverty.

They are taking part in the stunt to raise concerns about the impact of welfare cuts on the the poor.

They fear that Britain may be returning to the levels of poverty and contempt for the poor described by Dickens in A Christmas Carol.

The trio will be cycling to the Chancellor's constituency office in Knutsford where they will drop off the festive classic on 14 December.

The 20-mile journey starts at Manchester's Albert Square Christmas Market and stops will be made along the way so that members of the public can sign a statement to the Chancellor.

Pinch said: "It's a bit of festive fun with a very serious message at a time when many families are being forced to choose between heating and eating.

"Chancellor Osborne is at severe risk of turning into a modern day Scrooge, and we want to add our voices to the many calls for him to change track."

News
Conservatives urge incoming Archbishop to drop £100m slavery reparations
Conservatives urge incoming Archbishop to drop £100m slavery reparations

Should church funds be used for slavery reparations? A group of Conservative MPs and peers think not.

What if the Good Shepherd is closer than you think?
What if the Good Shepherd is closer than you think?

Pastoral care is not a task reserved for a handful of gifted individuals; it is the life of Christ, quietly at work inside ordinary believers.

Anglican Mainstream sees monthly growth despite web hosting suspension
Anglican Mainstream sees monthly growth despite web hosting suspension

Conservative Christian website, Anglican Mainstream, was surprised to see visitor numbers rise after being forced to relocate its website hosting after GoDaddy closed its account.

Missionary turned soldier in Ukraine balances faith with harsh frontline realities
Missionary turned soldier in Ukraine balances faith with harsh frontline realities

A former missionary who is now serving as a soldier in the Ukrainian army has spoken about the realities of faith for a man tasked with killing in defence of his country.