News and Views 16th July 2026

Politics and Faith

• The shock and disgust of Ann Widdecombe’s murder. The murder last week of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe has shocked and appalled the country (though it was greatly celebrated by some – read here and here). Despite Devon and Cornwall Police being quick to tell us there was no reason to believe her death was politically motivated or connected to terrorism, there was much to suggest otherwise – as has now been confirmed. Counter-terror police are now investigating whether the suspect – who we were instantly told was a ‘white male’ – had a leftwing motivation and may have targeted other Reform UK politicians. Reform are calling for 'Full Security' following the murder and after ongoing threats against Nigel Farage and other Reform politicians.
• The vital faith of Ms Widdecombe. Ann Widdecombe was known to be a deeply committed Christian. She had been an evangelical Anglican since her early 30s - although in 1992 she left the Church of England to join the Catholic Church. “For years I’ve been disillusioned by the Church of England compromising on everything”, she said. “The Catholic Church doesn’t care if something is unpopular … If it’s true, it’s true, and if it’s false, it’s false.” Ann took her faith seriously, it being much more than just a matter of what she believed. Rather, it was the basis of her whole way of life. She is quoted as saying; "You get to heaven through Christ. I mean, I would have thought that was perfectly obvious through the sacrifice at Calvary; I don’t know any other way of getting there.” Ann's faith and her political vision fed each other. This meant that, unlike many other politicians, she had principles she would not surrender. “All I do is what I think is right, and leave the rest to God", she once explained

​LGBTQ Agenda

• Starmer proud to have ‘gayest’ Parliament in the world. Sir Keir Starmer may have stepped down as PM of the United Kingdom, but his legacy will not disappear so quickly. Speaking at a Pride reception in the gardens at Downing Street earlier this month, Starmer stated: “I am really proud that we have got the gayest Parliament, not just of all time but anywhere in the world. I don’t think there is any parliament that is gayer than this one. That is fantastic.” Starmer also embraced being called a “lesbian style icon”, saying, “I like that”. Despite all this, some members of the LGBTQ+ community have been critical of his decision not to challenge the Supreme Court’s common-sense ruling that the legal definition of a woman refers to biological sex. There are at least 78 openly LGBTQ+ MPs in the House of Commons (63 of them Labour), representing one of the highest proportions of openly LGBTQ+ lawmakers of any national legislature worldwide. Read also.

Persecution of Christians

• Islamists stole a Christian girl but the courts protect her captors. Maria Shahbaz, a 13-year-old Pakistani girl, was kidnapped from her Christian home in July 2025 by a Muslim who married her against her will and forced her to convert to Islam. Shahbaz has since been "exposed to grave abuse and exploitation," according to the legal advocacy group, Alliance Defending Freedom. The conversion documents claimed Maria had done her own “research” and freely chose to change her religion, even though she is illiterate. Shockingly, a Pakistan Court has ruled that she should remain in her captor's custody, despite this contradicting Pakistani law. Joel Veldkamp of Christian Solidarity International says the bias in these courts runs deep. “A lot of these judges simply are Muslim supremacists,” he said. “They think Christians are dirty." Shahbaz now awaits a further court hearing, giving the Pakistani judiciary a chance to correct their grave error.

Other recent instances of persecution against Christian believers worldwide include:

• China: Chinese authorities have intensified a nationwide campaign against Christians who worship outside state-controlled churches, arresting thousands of believers and targeting some of the country’s largest underground congregations. In one incident, a worship gathering in Sichuan province was raided, police detaining 33 Christians and holding scores of other believers—including elderly members and families with children—inside the meeting hall for several hours. 
• Congo: A Muslim terrorist group called Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) claimed the killing of six believers in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in two separate attacks. In early June, ISCAP fighters burned down 80 “houses of Christians” in separate attacks elsewhere in the region. ISCAP has now claimed the killing of around 1,155 Christians in north-eastern DRC since its campaign of jihadi violence escalated in December 2024.
• Egypt: A crowd of Muslim residents attacked a Coptic place of worship in Egypt, pelting the building with stones while chanting sectarian abuse. Several Christians suffered injuries. Egyptian police arrested four Christian men who had been assaulted by the mob, and only agreed to free them two days later once they abandoned the complaint they lodged against those who beat them.
• India: The home of a Christian family in Punjab was deliberately set ablaze by three Muslim men while the family was at church. The arson attack followed an argument several days earlier concerning the theft of a backup battery system from the church. The fire destroyed almost everything the family owned. The emotional toll of the attack has compounded the family’s financial hardship, leaving them without a home, without savings and with their livelihood severely affected.
• Pakistan: A torn page of the Quran was nailed to the door of a Muslim store in Baldia Town, Pakistan, along with photographs of a Christian and his mother. The incident had the desired effect of inciting violence, as several hundred Muslims gathered outside the home where the Christians lived, accusing them of blasphemy, and effectively trapping neighbouring Christians in their homes. 

The Spirit Moves

• Revival fires in Brazil's Amazon. CBN News reports a "profound spiritual transformation" unfolding in the Amazon region in Brazil's northwest, home to 60% of the Amazon rainforest. For decades, lone evangelical missionaries have been traversing these waters in an attempt to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the Amazonian people. Today, the evangelical presence is said to be undeniable, with 3,200 Foursquare congregations alone flourishing across the region. "In the first six months of this year, we baptized 14,500 people," exulted one local pastor. “Our goal for this year is to baptize over 30,000 people". "I think that the revival that we have been waiting for here in Brazil is happening in the Amazon," said Brazilian senator and evangelical Pastor Damares Regina Alves. Alves believes the shift is more than just a change in religious practice – it's a movement that promises to redefine the region's spiritual and social landscape for generations to come.

Israel and the CofE

• Anglican Church endorses Palestinian manifesto denying Israel’s legitimacy. Since last week's report in Prophecy Today, the Church of England’s legislative body has voted to encourage churches across England to engage with a document produced by Palestinian Christians that accuses Israel of genocide - this despite pleas from the UK's Chief Rabbi, Jewish deputies, and clergy, all warning of the potential consequences for Jews. 235 members of the synod voted in favour, while 47 voted against. Of the 30 Bishops who voted, none voted against.  The document  - “A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide” - is also known as Kairos II.
• Palestinian document ‘highly problematic’. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said, “It is truly shocking that a document which purports to speak in the name of truth contains so much falsehood.” The president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews issued a statement calling the passage of the motion “highly problematic.” Giles Fraser of Unherd called it "a shameful vote", noting that "this document doesn’t say that the Israeli government's response to the massacre of October 7 was so excessive that the word genocide comes into view – they go way further than this and say that Israel was a genocidal project from the very beginning."

Church Matters

• Amnesty International report brands evangelicals as anti human rights. Christian and pro-life groups have rejected a report by Amnesty International accusing them of being “anti-(human) rights”.  The report strongly criticised Christian groups that were 'anti-abortion', 'gender critical', or in favour of 'conversion practises' - saying that such “anti-rights” organisations are “fostering moral panic”, and “often create or amplify fears about minority and marginalised groups”. Among the institutions blacklisted by Amnesty was The Christian Institute, the Evangelical Alliance, Christian Concern, CARE, the Christian Medical Fellowship, and Christians in Parliament.
• Amnesty's new generation of thought-criminals. Peter Lynas, UK director of the Evangelical Alliance, said: “If standing up for religious freedom, women and the rights of the unborn puts you on Amnesty's naughty list, then we are happy to be there." Amnesty International have since removed and apologised for the controversial report, spuriously claiming it had not gone through the proper internal checks before being published on its website. Spiked's Jo Bartosch lamented, "The organisation that once defended prisoners of conscience now seems determined to identify a new generation of thought-criminals." Read also.