I have never understood this thing about being Jewish.
Judaism is a faith, in the same way that Catholicism is. I stopped being a good little Catholic boy, when I stopped being a little boy, so I can't possibly still be called a Catholic can I ? I am an ex-Catholic but an extant Atheist.
So.... if Ed calls himself an Atheist, what damn difference does it make that his Mum was a Jew ? He is what he wants to be and that isn't Jewish !
I am not sure if we have ever had any declared Atheists as PM, but I wouldn't mind betting that some of them at least have paid lip service to
being Christian !
I am reminded of that joke about a young chap, on a trans-European train. He is trying to read his newspaper but the little old lady opposite keeps leaning forward and tapping him on the knee and interrupting him. She keeps asking him if he is Jewish and he patiently replies that, " No, I'm not Jewish"
But she keeps on and on, so eventually he says, in exasperation, " OK, for pity's sake, I'm Jewish !
The old lady replies...." Now thats funny, because you don't look Jewish ! "