The message of Easter: do what you like.

If the rank tedium of the leaders’ debate last night was not enough, the prime minister has now gone trawling for the votes of the devout, in particular christians, following his bizarre message to an evangelical radio programme. “Some argue that celebrating Easter somehow marginalises other religions” pronounces the divine leader, but he remains “ an unapologetic supporter of the role of faith.”

Well, for starters, no one is asking anyone, least of all a PM who once said “My faith is a bit like the reception for Magic FM in the Chilterns: it sort of comes and goes” to apologise for the role of faith, which essentially means belief without evidence. Personally, I see no role at all in the modern scientific age for ‘faith’ but by the same token I have no issue with others practicing their faith as long as it doesn’t in any way affect my life.

But it gets worse. Cameron goes on to say what he feels is “at the heart of the Christian message. He continues: “Easter is all about remembering the importance of change, responsibility, and doing the right thing for the good of our children. And today, that message matters more than ever.”

Now this is at considerable variance with what I read on the BBC website which described the origins of Easter as follows:

“After Jesus was crucified on the Friday (now known as Good Friday), his body was taken down from the cross, and buried in a cave tomb. The tomb was guarded by Roman Soldiers and an enormous stone was put over the entrance, so that no-one could steal the body.

“On the Sunday, Mary Magdalene, followed later by some of Jesus’ disciples visited the tomb and found that the stone had been moved, and that Jesus’ body had gone.

“Jesus himself was seen that day by Mary and the disciples, and for forty days afterwards by many people. His followers realised that God had raised Jesus from the dead. Christians call this the Resurrection.”

Now to my uneducated eyes, none of that has anything to do with Cameron’s interpretation of the christian message. No references there to “the importance of change, responsibility and doing the right thing for the good of our children” there.

By closely aligning himself with religion, there is an inherent contradiction in Cameron the politician and Cameron the god-botherer. Would the supposed Jesus of Nazareth have been so utterly contemptuous of the poor and the widescale use of food banks, the depiction of those without work as feckless, lazy scroungers or the Tory hate-preaching about these terrible immigrants?

Celebrate or commemorate Easter how you like. Go to a church and say a few prayers, sing a few songs. Go to the pub and have a few pints. Go to your local store and buy some Easter eggs. For most people, it’s a welcome break from the working life and little more than that and we don’t need some proselytising politician to persuade us otherwise.