Think-tank: 'Mark all religious festivals'

All major religious festivals should be celebrated alongside Christmas in an attempt to boost race relations, a left-leaning think-tank has suggested.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) was accused by the Conservatives of "losing the plot" after it floated the idea.

The proposal came in a new pamphlet on improving race relations, which argued that ethnic minorities were surrounded by symbols of "long-standing cultures and religions".

The leaked report from the IPPR, regarded as the Government's favourite think-tank, added: "In these circumstances, even-handedness dictates we provide public recognition to minority cultures and traditions.

"If we are going to continue as a nation to mark Christmas... then our public organisations should mark other major religious festivals too."

It does not name the other festivals that could be marked, but the authors could have had the Muslim festival of Eid, the Hindu festival of Diwali, the Jewish holiday of Passover and the Chinese new year in mind.