A return to religious values is the key to making Britain a happier place, according to a new report co-written by MP Alistair Burt.

The North East Bedfordshire politician was one of the authors of Faith in the Future, produced by a group of MPs who are all practising Christians.

The report looked at why 'life-satisfaction' for people living in the UK has failed to improve over the last 35 years, despite ever-increasing wealth.

Mr Burt said: "This is the fruit of two years'work by a cross-party group. Our starting point was that we looked at the world we live in, and what we would want for our children, and children who will be born in the next generation.

"We spoke to people such as the Bishop of Bedford and Suzy Leather, chairman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology, so we were not just coming from a Christian perspective. And as we worked through it was clear we wanted to produce something that would be hopeful for the future."

Mr Burt stressed the report was not solely about Christian values, and was aimed at a more general growth in spritual awareness.

He said: "There are many truths within faith, and the Christian faith can be built upon to find answers for the future – such as when it comes to building relationships or self-esteem.

"According to research, young people in our copuntry have the lowest self-esteem in the Western world. That is a great shame. They have great talents, and great opportunities.

"But all too often they do not see that. They need a sense that they can achieve, and we feel that this needs to be a bigger part of political policy making than has been the case for some time."

David Brittan, spokesman for the non-religious group Bedfordshire Humanists, said he disagreed with the need for greater religious influence in public life.

He said: "The idea that I find most disappointing, for want of a better word, is the built-in assumption that to be good and to be happy we must have a religion and a God."


To read the report in full, click here