In-between attending memorial events and laying wreaths, Mr Johnson, Mr Corbyn and Ms Swinson have set out their pledges to the armed forces.

Mr Johnson promised an extension of a railcard for veterans, providing discounted travel for those who don’t get it through other railcards already. Labour have promised to provide better accommodation for army families and the Liberal Democrats say armed forces veterans who were born outside the UK would be exempt from paying settlement fees for staying.

An army adviser and defence expert has been reviewing these policies and their potential appeal to army communities.

Retired Major General Tim Cross advised the House of Commons select committee on defence for seven years from 2007 and was the president of the Armed Forces Christian Union, having previously served in the Balkans, Northern Ireland and Cyprus.

Major General Tim Cross told Premier’s News Hour his thoughts on the railcard: “I think in the great scheme of things it’s a fairly minor issue, I noticed that the other thing they’re talking about is taking away the possibilty of veterans from places like Northern Ireland being prosecuted 40 or 50 years after events, which I would think is far more important than a veteran’s railcard.”

Mr Johnson suggested that a Tory Government would change the Human Rights Act so that it does not include events before 2000,…

The true meaning of Christmas is being left further and further behind, he said: “Last week, I walked into a Costa Coffee, heard the sound of ‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,’ and walked straight out again. This is what we all need to do. I, Tim Stanley – a right-wing Christian and member of the National Trust – am calling for a war on Christmas.”

Stanley told Premier: “I get that if you really, really love Christmas, of course you’re going to want more of it more of the time. The problem is that I think it is psychologically a little unhealthy to spend six weeks preparing for what many people spend one or two days on.

“It doesn’t really reflect what Christians are supposed to believe, which is that first you have the Advent season, which is about leading up to Christmas. Then from the 25th onwards, depending of course on which particular Christian church you are a member of, you then have the Christmas period, which in fact, lasts much longer, and there is a season of family and prayer and things like that. So, I find this tension between what the shops sell us as being Christmas and what Christmas actually theologically means, I find that tension really, really difficult to struggle with.”

Stanley says Christians should reclaim Christmas, he told Premier: “Rather than endorsing this season, I think it’d be better to withdraw from it and…

Furman, known as Ace on the Gladiators programme, has installed Hang Tough rings in Calvary Chapel, York so people can benefit “physically and spiritually”.

Speaking to the Mirror Furman said: “It makes sense for a church to teach how to look after the body.”

Congregations are invited after Sunday services to have a go on various inflatables.

Furman describes himself as a “Gladiator for the Gospel” and is encouraging the chapel’s “super fit” Pastor Dave Sylvester to start his sermons swinging from the ceilings, insisting it would grasp the attention of the congregation.

Furman hopes the idea will catch on in other churches too, saying: “The church has a great big space in the middle of a city,” he says. “What a place where people can come to a fun environment where they’re going to benefit physically and spiritually. It’s a no-brainer.”

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Belfast-born Lord Mawhinney, who served as Tory Party chairman from 1995 to 1997 under Sir John Major’s government, died on Saturday evening.

In a statement his family said: “His death brings an end to a life dedicated to public service and rooted in an unwavering Christian faith.”

“He was a much loved husband, father and grandfather and a friend to many. He will be much missed.”

He was elected MP for Peterborough in 1979 and later represented North West Cambridgeshire, retiring in 2005, and was a member of the Cabinet from 1994 until 1997.

During that time he served as minister of state for the Department of Health and secretary of state for Transport.

He was knighted in 1997 and created a life peer in 2005.

Lord Mawhinney also served as Football League chairman for seven years from 2003.

During his time at the helm of the sporting body, he introduced the fit and proper persons test for prospective club directors and the publication of club spending on agents’ fees.

EFL chairman Rick Parry said in a statement: “Everyone associated with the EFL is saddened to hear of the loss of Lord Mawhinney, a hugely respected and influential figure in our recent past, most notably for his work as chairman of the Football League but also for the significant impact he had on the wider game.

“Lord Mawhinney was awarded a Life…

Irish Anglicanism features 20 essays ranging across themes as broad as youth work, art and architecture, education, liturgy, the Irish language, and music. 

The project forms part of the Church’s D150 initiative, to mark the 150th anniversary of its disestablishment, which broke the link between Church and State.

Speaking at an event on 8^th November celebrating the launch of the book, Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland noted that the historical period since 1969 “is in fact one of considerable interest, sociologically, politically, and indeed ecclesiastically – so much has changed in that period.”

He added that “the strength of the essays has been very much their variety” whereas, in 1969, the Church would have been “much more cautious” and “much less self-critical.” 

Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland

Archbishop Richard discussed developments in a range of issues covered by the essays and, in particular, welcomed the “evolution with dignity” in the development of the role of women in ministry during that time.

The book is co-edited by Dr Paul Harron and Dr Kenneth Milne.

Dr Harron said at the event: “Without exception, each author has approached…

The rate will increase by 30p-an-hour to £9.30, and by 20p in London to £10.75, with the number of employers signing up to pay the living wage increasing to almost 6,000.

The Living Wage Foundation, which sets the rates, said they were now £1.09-an-hour higher than the statutory minimum wage of £8.21 for adults, and £2.54 higher in London.

Workers will receive the news on Monday, although the new rates will be brought in over the next few months.

A record 1,500 employers have accredited with the foundation this year, including Crystal Palace Football Club, Welsh Water and Newcastle University as well as a number of local authorities.

More than a third of companies in the FTSE 100 pay the living wage.

Most Rev Justin Welby said: “Living Wage Week 2019 is a moment to celebrate what can be done when faith organisations, civil society and businesses pull together around values that unite us.

“With thousands of employers now accredited by the Living Wage Foundation, it’s no longer just a campaign, it’s a movement that is transforming lives.”

According to The Daily Mirror, he also lamented impact poverty has on hard-working people and said everyone deserves “to live with dignity, freedom and hope”.

“For people to be trapped in poverty, even as they work long hours to provide for themselves and their families, is a fundamental injustice,” Archbishop Justin…