David Cameron 'hijacks' Easter for election message

• Conservative Party Leader David Cameron and his wife Samantha Cameron during a visit to the Pedro Club, in Hackney, east London. Picture: Getty

With the announcement of a 6 May general election expected early next week, the Conservative leader took the unusual step of issuing an Easter message that seized on Christ's resurrection to suggest it was time for a fresh start.

Mr Cameron's words were criticised by leading Church figures, who claimed he had taken the Easter story – the most important of the liturgical year – out of context in order to call subliminally for a change of government.

In his message, the Tory leader sent out his "very warmest wishes" to the people of the world, spoke of the inspiration of Jesus Christ and paid tribute to the "great contribution" made to Britain by Christianity.

But it was an extract that referred to Christ coming back from the dead, and which also had echoes of the Conservatives' "Time for a Change" slogan, that prompted the criticism.

"No matter what faiths we follow, we can all draw strength from Christ's message of hope, of a new beginning and a promise of a new dawn," Mr Cameron said.

That form of words was attacked by Canon Kenyon Wright, the Episcopalian clergyman who chaired the Scottish Constitutional Convention.

"The words he uses are accurate, but I would find it rather strange for politicians in such a blatant way to take something like this out of context. It is bound to be – in the public mind – identified with his political message," said Canon Wright.

"Throughout the generations, politicians have tried to hijack Christ for their own ends, and I think it is very unwise when they do things like this.

"It is not because what he says is inaccurate, but because it is bound to be identified in the public's mind with the political message."