Keep trendy politics away from the pulpit

HOW deeply depressing that the Archbishop of Canterbury has added his voice to the chorus of luvvies wailing against Brexit and Donald Trump.

We have grown used to such posturing from millionaires at the Baftas and Oscars, parading Left-wing consciences before sweeping off in limousines, clutching £160,000 goodie bags.

But why does the chief clergyman of the Church of England feel impelled to join them in the political arena, bandying about words such as ‘populist’ and even ‘fascist’ to insult anyone who challenges the liberal orthodoxy?

For Justin Welby’s information, millions voted Leave without a trace of racism or ill-feeling towards fellow men. They included churchgoing Anglicans – and many who fought fascism in the war. Yes, they wanted stronger border controls to ease the strain on public services and protect national security. But what’s so wrong about that?

They were motivated, too, by a belief in Britain’s ability to prosper in the world beyond the EU. And every man and woman among them believed in voters’ democratic right, denied by Brussels, to elect and sack their rulers (an option unavailable under fascist regimes!)

Indeed, this paper sees nothing in the Brexit agenda to warrant such crass and offensive condemnation from the pulpit.

As for Mr Trump, true, he is deeply flawed – though you might think a churchman would at least approve of his crackdown on mass abortion and support for Christians in the Middle East.

But what business is it of the Archbishop to condemn the choice of 63million Americans, or bracket them with supporters of European neo-fascists?

In an increasingly Godless Britain of emptying pews, family breakdown, selfishness, greed and shallow celebrity, you might think Mr Welby had enough to concern him without dabbling in fashionable politics – thus further dividing a church already torn apart by its obsession with gay rights. If he wanted to preach right- on liberalism, he should have stood alongside Nick Clegg for Parliament.