Skip to main content
Regional secretary with the National Education Union
Signs of growing radicalism at the Greenbelt Christian festival?
SYMON HILL wonders whether progressive shoots are sprouting at one of Britain’s largest religious events

Last weekend communist theologian Marika Rose called for the abolition of the police.

It’s nothing remarkable: she has been expressing such views for years. What was different this time is that she was addressing an audience at one of Britain’s largest religious festivals.

Greenbelt is a Christian-based festival of music, comedy, arts, talks, debate, politics, worship and theology. In recent years, it has projected a clearly left-of-centre image.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Features / 2 April 2025
2 April 2025
The unnecessarily violent police intervention at a Quaker place of worship is a PR disaster and will only serve to deepen the chasm between them and the public. SYMON HILL reports
Symon Hill (right) and (left) an anti-monarchy protest
Features / 10 March 2025
10 March 2025
The police have finally admitted it was totally illegal to arrest me for simply asking who elected King Charles — my ordeal has opened my eyes to the plight of free speech and the right to protest in Britain, writes SYMON HILL
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, March 31, 2024
Features / 21 December 2024
21 December 2024
Behind headlines of bishops’ resignations and brutal abuse lies the deeper story of class privilege and power, as religious institutions face a stark choice between serving the elite or standing with the oppressed, writes SYMON HILL
Windows are smashed as trouble flares during an anti-immigra
Features / 8 August 2024
8 August 2024
Far right claims to be ‘standing up for Christian Britain’ are false and aimed at stoking up hate – but Christians must step forward and loudly speak out against them, says SYMON HILL
Similar stories
Persecution of Jews during the Black Death, unknown artist
Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 / 27 January 2025
27 January 2025
JAMES CROSSLEY charts how anti Jewish sentiment developed from ancient days and the dawn of Christianity to the Middle Ages, the birth of Protestantism and the sinister era of of the Nazis
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, March 31, 2024
Features / 21 December 2024
21 December 2024
Behind headlines of bishops’ resignations and brutal abuse lies the deeper story of class privilege and power, as religious institutions face a stark choice between serving the elite or standing with the oppressed, writes SYMON HILL
GIVING PRAISE: General view of a crucifix in the scissor arc
Features / 27 August 2024
27 August 2024
TOMASZ PIERSCIONEK explores the overlaps between the ideas of Christ and Karl Marx in seeking a better world for the poor and downtrodden
Windows are smashed as trouble flares during an anti-immigra
Features / 8 August 2024
8 August 2024
Far right claims to be ‘standing up for Christian Britain’ are false and aimed at stoking up hate – but Christians must step forward and loudly speak out against them, says SYMON HILL