A LEADING Scots churchman used his Easter Day sermon to vent his anger at the “cruel” effects of Tory benefits and spending cuts.

The Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth, Provost of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Glasgow, said Government-imposed austerity measures “risk dismantling the safety nets that have taken decades to build”.

Mr Holdsworth, himself a Westminster Liberal Democrat candidate in the 2005 election, also shared with worshippers his concerns about anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the run up to the General Election.

He said: “We have known some cruel things in recent times. A cruel massacre in Kenya. A cruel plane crash last week. And the cruelties of rising anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and fear of foreigners being brought into play at election time.

“The election itself takes place against a background where cruel benefit sanctions have been sold to people as a positive good and austerity measures risk dismantling the safety nets that have taken decades to build.

“So many things feel cruel. So many things feel wicked. But on Easter Day the truth I believe is that this world is neither cruel nor wicked at its core.“This world is blessed by a God who loves it.”Before the service, the clergyman said Jewish and Islamic communities didn’t feel as safe as they should in Scotland.

He added: “Through interfaith contacts at St Mary’s Cathedral we have been aware for months of rising concerns from both Jewish and Islamic communities in Scotland. It is clear that many Scots do not feel as safe as they have a right to feel.“All politicians need to commit themselves and their supporters to ensuring that none of their words or actions during this election campaign raise community tensions.”In his Easter message published earlier this week, the head of the Church of Scotland urged Christians to become “ever more passionate” in their efforts to help the world’s poorest.

The Right Reverend John Chalmers said: “Because I believe in this life in all its fullness I want everyone else to experience it and to share it.“So it makes me rage when I see social exclusion, it makes me angry that we don’t put enough effort into peace-making and it fills me with indignation when I see a mother who can’t feed her child.

“This year I’ve seen what war does to people and I’ve seen the way in which the poor are left endlessly poor.“I therefore have two great hopes at Easter. The first, that the poorest of the poor will enjoy the new life of the Kingdom ahead of people like me and the second, that inspired by our Easter faith Christians across the world will become ever more passionate in their efforts to see that the least and the last get a chance to enjoy life before death.”