Billy Bragg urges to “Put Christ Back Into Christmas”
British singer-songwriter and progressive activist, Billy Bragg, is known for addressing a wide range of global issues in his music. In 2023, he turned Oliver Anthony’s viral “Rich Men North Of Richmond” into a unionizing anthem, and in September, he released the powerful “Hundred Year Hunger” shedding light on the Israeli military’s strategic starvation of Palestinians. Now, Bragg is back with another politically charged song that resonates with audiences in the United States: “Put Christ Back Into Christmas.”
The song “Put Christ Back Into Christmas” is a direct response to Tommy Robinson, a prominent figure in the UK’s far-right movement. Robinson gained popularity after establishing the short-lived anti-Islam group, the English Defence League, and later becoming a political advisor to Gerard Batten, former leader of the neo-Nazi UK Independence Party. Recently, Robinson has been appropriating Christian rhetoric for his xenophobic agenda, a move that has been met with resistance from the Church of England. Bragg elaborated on this issue in a Substack post, highlighting the disconnect between Robinson’s newfound Christian identity and his promotion of divisive ideologies.
Robinson’s campaign to “put Christ back into Christmas” is seen as a thinly veiled attempt to push his anti-immigrant agenda under the guise of religious messaging. In response, the Church of England has launched a poster campaign with the hashtag #joyforall to counter the anti-immigrant narrative promoted by Robinson. The Joint Public Issues Team, a coalition of church groups including the Church of England, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist church, and the United Reformed church, have developed a “rapid response” resource for churches to challenge Robinson’s message. The initiative is particularly focused on countering Robinson’s far-right carol singing rally scheduled for Sunday, December 14.
Bragg, along with other activists, plans to perform songs at a counter-rally on Saturday to oppose Robinson’s “Putting Christ Back Into Christmas” carol service in central London. The lyrics of Bragg’s new song advocate for peace and unity, calling for an end to violence, hunger, and tyranny in the world. This poignant message resonates with audiences who reject the divisive and exclusionary tactics employed by far-right groups like Robinson’s.
In a time when political rhetoric is often used to sow discord and spread hate, artists like Billy Bragg use their platform to promote messages of peace, inclusion, and social justice. Through his music, Bragg challenges the status quo and encourages listeners to stand up against oppression and injustice. “Put Christ Back Into Christmas” is not just a song; it is a call to action for individuals to resist hate and embrace love and compassion during the holiday season and beyond.