Has Kemi Badenoch never even seen the Life of Brian?

When Kemi Bedenoch appeared on the latest BBC “Political Thinking” podcast with Nick Robinson, the discussion soon turned to welfare. Robinson noted that Badenoch had recently quoted St Paul’s advice to Timothy on the importance of providing for yourself and for your family. “Is it un-Christian to expect the state to do what your family or your household or your wider community should do for you?” Robinson asked.

“In early christian times there was no state, or welfare,” Badenoch pronounced, “so I think that you can argue that, actually.”

That claim will certainly come as a surprise to scholars of the Roman empire, a very large, very powerful state that was notably active in “early christian times”. (For a sense of how active, see “the crucifixion story”.)

Students of “early christian times” may also recall that the Roman state did in fact operate a system of welfare, known as Alimenta, which operated from 98-272AD, slap bang in the middle of the early christian era. This state-backed welfare system provided funds to feed poor children and orphans, and was not notably capped at two children.

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The Tory leader may be confused by the philanthropic and charitable basis upon which many early Christian communities certainly operated. But the idea that they did so in a society without a state government is ridiculous and historically illiterate.

It’s also worth remembering that the Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in 312AD and that in the decades that followed, the Roman state adopted christianity as its religion. The early Christian church literally emerged from the Roman state.

In other words, the leader of the opposition couldn’t be more wrong. It’s hard to know which is more shocking – that Badenoch has not read any Asterix books, or that she’s evidently never even seen The Life of Brian. Still, at least it gives a few ideas for what to buy for her Secret Santa.