This week, the Evangelical Alliance has launched a landmark report 'Understanding UK Evangelicals' and in this  episode of Cross Section, Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Danny Webster unpack the research. How many evangelical Christians are in the UK? What is the demographic makeup? Can we trust the findings? 

The team also reflect on the fall of the assisted suicide bill, St Pauls cathedral being turned into a night club, Trump's comments about a united Ireland and Reform's finances. This is an episode not to be missed. 

Understanding UK Evangelicals - Who are they? - Evangelical Alliance 

Good news! The UK evangelical Church is growing | Opinion | Premier Christianity 

Evangelicals are now 2 in 3 practising Christians across the UK 

A deep dive into the evangelical church - Evangelical Alliance

Chapters: 

0:00 - Welcome

Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Danny Webster return from the summer break to the same political upheaval as before. The team discuss the recent Channel 4 documentary revealing further questions regarding donations to Reform UK and apparent fractures in Nigel Farage's top team. How will this effect their electorate success and popularity? 

They go on to explore the weekend headlines of Patriot Platform and masked men seeking to 'defend the Portsmouth' coastline whilst chanting 'Christ is King' and round up the conversation on the upcoming vote in Westminster on assisted suicide on Friday, 11 September.

The theme of polarisation continues across our news and political stories. How can Christians engage and offer a different way of living and response?

0:00 — Welcome

Is Andy Burnham the new ‘TikTok PM’? The Cross Section summer break takes a temporary pause as the team reunite to discuss all that has happened since Andy Burnham became prime minister. The team cover his use of social media, his focus on cost of living and social care, lack of mention of immigration and touch on assisted suicide. What will the coming months look like? What will the challenges be? Most importantly, how can Christians pray effectively?

The team also discuss the upcoming Clacton by-election, the new series of ‘The Chosen’ and ‘The Odyssey’.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

For the season finale before the summer break, Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Danny Webster share reflections from the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast in Westminster, President Trump's influence over a red card, the unfolding story surrounding Nigel Farage's relationship with a cryptocurrency convicted billionaire and the role of the UK church in embodying a message of hope at a time of national instability.

National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast (YouTube link): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPvx1DHTleE

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Cross Section

00:21 Prayer Breakfast Highlights

01:39 Hope Not Politics

02:39 Westminster Hall Atmosphere

03:09 Andy Burnham Buzz

04:15 Season Wrap and News Picks

04:47 Culture Spotlight Ezra Collective

06:08 Football and Media Frenzy

07:22 Trump vs FIFA Rules

09:46 Reform Party Under Scrutiny

11:30 Farage Donations Explained

13:01 Standards Probe and Recall Risk

14:02 Recall Petition Stakes

15:00 Have Reform Peaked

15:43 Farage Under Pressure

17:04 Electoral System Reality

17:56 Polls Momentum Shifts

19:48 Switching to Burnham

21:12 Burnham Honeymoon Risks

23:55 Devolution Versus Growth

26:00 Praying for Hope

26:56 Church as Stability

29:54 Polarization and Discipleship

32:57 Season Wrap and Farewell

In this week’s episode of Cross Section, Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Danny Webster discuss the leading political and cultural headlines. The team begin with a conversation about King Charles’ announcement that he is redefining his role as monarch from “Defender of the Faith” to protecting “the space for faith within the multi-faith nation”. What are the implications for his role as the head of the Church of England? What does this show about the nature of religion in the UK today?

They then consider Andy Burnham’s Catholic upbringing and ponder how he may engage with faith as he comes into Downing Street. Can Britain talk about religion well? Alicia briefly refers to the National Conversation campaign to rebuild social cohesion.

The team then turn to the significant release last week of draft conversion practices legislation. This is an issue the Evangelical Alliance has engaged with since 2018 and this bill raises many concerns. Why are we worried about what is being proposed? What could be the impact of this legislation for parents and churches? What will happen next and how can Christians respond?

This is an episode you do not want to miss.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

Is Britain ungovernable?

This week on Cross Section, Alicia Edmund, Danny Webster and Zanna Meynell unpack a hugely significant week in British politics. Following Andy Burnham’s win in the Makerfield by-election last week, Monday saw Keir Starmer announce his resignation. What will this period of political limbo look like? How can we engage? And where can we put our hope when things are so unstable? 

The team also reflect on the news that Jeffrey Donaldson (former DUP leader) has been found guilty of historic child sex offences. This heartbreaking story serves as a reminder of the importance of bringing things to light and justice being served.  

The episode ends with the encouraging story of the mass baptisms in Bournemouth last weekend.  

Chapters: 

0:00 - Introduction

On today's episode of Cross Section, Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Danny Webster try to make sense of Lauren Edward's decision to reintroduce the assisted dying / suicide bill, t-up the political permutations ahead of Thursday's Makerfield by-election and discuss the government’s latest announcement about a social media ban for under 16 year olds. 

https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Docs/PDF/Council/Voting-and-Elections/2026/Makerfield/Election-Agent-Notice-Makerfield-2026.pdf

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction  

On today's episode, Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Danny Webster cover a whole range of issues from calls to boycott HelloFresh, to a seven-minute standing ovation for the Pope in the Spanish parliament, what energy drink would Jesus drink? to the number of openly Christian players at this year's World Cup. It's becoming the new normal to see Christianity discussed in the cultural space, so the team discuss how as Christians we can speak confidently and compelling about Jesus.

00:00 Welcome and lineup

00:57 Christian energy drinks

03:07 Southampton aftermath

07:52 Cohabitation rights debate

10:11 Pope in Madrid

11:04 Profit before Pride

16:19 Free speech and gender

24:32 Subscribe and feedback

25:18 Football and faith

33:47 Final reflections

Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Danny Webster return to Cross Section to review this week’s key news stories. They begin with a news roundup covering calls to withdraw mainstream media platforms from influencer Bonnie Blue, Tony Blair’s intervention on what has gone wrong in Britain and Alan Milburn’s warning about rising numbers of young people not in education, employment or training.  

The main discussion focuses on Pope Leo XIV’s lengthy encyclical Magnifica Humanitas on safeguarding humanity in the ever-changing age of AI, drawing parallels with a previous encyclical Rerum Novarum and exploring dignity, work, agency. How do we use AI wisely as Christians? How can we grapple with the implications of A on human dignity and work? 

The episode ends with a conversation about religious freedom following the sentencing of a Sikh man who killed Henry Nowak using a large kirpan, the ceremonial blade Sikhs are required by their faith to carry. How does this story tap into the wider theme of the freedom of religion and how as Christians can we respond? 

https://www.regent-college.edu/resources/laing-lectures/2026-laing-lectures/

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome

In this week’s episode of Cross Section, Danny Webster and Zanna Meynell are joined by Mark Gilmore, policy advisor at the Evangelical Alliance. Conversation turns to the damp squib that was the King’s Speech . It serves as a reminder that we cannot place all our hopes in politics.

The team discuss the implications of potential conversion practices legislation and the significance of that for Christians. From Andy Burnham to Keir Starmer, the team weigh in on what has happened with the Labour leadership race and the continuing chaos surrounding this political moment. As last Saturday saw another ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march, the team examine the continuing conversation around Christian nationalism in the UK. Do check out the briefing events that are coming up in June, which will help us engage in conversations around Islam and Christian nationalism.

The episode ends with a conversation about intergenerational divides following a BBC article about boomers being the luckiest generation alive.

https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/events/islam-challenges-questions-and-gospel-opportunities

https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/events/politics-briefing-flag-faith-and-kingdom-engaging-with-christian-nationalism

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction