Theresa May has criticised the National Trust after the word “Easter” was dropped from its annual egg hunt, calling the decision “absolutely ridiculous”.
Speaking during a trade visit to Saudi Arabia, May, an Anglican, said Easter was “very important” to her.
“I’m not just a vicar’s daughter – I’m a member of the National Trust as well. I think the stance they’ve taken is absolutely ridiculous and I don’t know what they’re thinking about,” she told ITV News.
The National Trust said it was “in no way downplaying the significance of Easter” and that Cadbury was responsible for the branding of its campaign.
A spokesman for Cadbury said: “Each year, our Easter campaigns have a different name and this year our seasonal campaign is called the ‘Cadbury Great British Egg Hunt’.”
He said the word “Easter” was included in their promotional materials. “We invite people from all faiths and none to enjoy our seasonal treats, which can be found around Easter time.”
The Catholic Labour MP Conor McGinn described the Prime Minister’s comments as “faux outrage”, adding that it “does more to devalue the place of Christianity in modern Britain than any ‘PC brigade’.”
Former Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather criticised Mrs May for focusing on the story “while on a trip to promote arms sales to a country that engages in torture.
“What a disincarnate vision of the faith she seems to have: all about English tradition and labels, but no respect for human lives,” she said.
But the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said that calling the event the Cadbury Egg Hunt was like “spitting on the grave” of the company’s Christian founder, John Cadbury.
Ampleforth: we followed police advice on accused priest
Ampleforth college has defended a decision to allow a priest accused of abuse to
live on its grounds and run a school shop.
The Times reported that Fr Jeremy Sierla had been allowed to remain on school grounds despite “multiple misconduct allegations”. But Ampleforth College said it had followed police and safeguarding recommendations.
A police investigation into allegations against Fr Sierla took place in 2004 but was dropped. “A letter was sent to parents by the (then) headmaster when the case arose and when it was concluded,” the school’s statement said.
“After this investigation was concluded, a Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) meeting was chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Bagshawe of North Yorkshire Police. It recommended that Fr Jeremy could continue to live in the Ampleforth community and work in the shop.”
Fr Sierla moved off the site in 2012 after a review by the Department for Education.
Fr Sierla, aged 59, now lives in a closed religious order and denies any wrongdoing, the school said.
