Archbishop: Britain split and crushed by Brexit and austerity
THE Archbishop of Canterbury has made a dramatic state-of-the-nation plea, warning that a combination of Brexit and austerity is opening up a ‘schism’ in society and ‘crushing the weak, the sick and many others’.
In the most powerful political intervention by a church leader for decades, Justin Welby told The Mail on Sunday our impending departure from the EU was the biggest challenge for society since the end of the Second World War.
In comments made to the MoS that will be read nervously in Downing Street, the archbishop took aim at policy failures in housing, healthcare and education and used last year’s Grenfell Tower tragedy, which claimed the lives of 71 people, to warn of a growing housing crisis. Grenfell remains a highly sensitive subject for Theresa May and her Government, particularly after singer Stormzy questioned the Prime Minister’s response to the fire at the Brit Awards last week.
The archbishop balanced his critique by arguing that ‘with our history, gifts, heritage of ethics and behaviour… we have every reason for hope’, adding that ‘we have reimagined ourselves before, after 1945 for example’. But his remarks will remind No 10 of the furore over the publication in 1985 of Archbishop Robert Runcie’s Faith In The City, which highlighted the failure of Margaret Thatcher’s policies to alleviate poverty and poor housing.
Welby said: ‘Brexit has divided the country – and now we need a new narrative. One that is rooted in all that is best in our history – solidarity, courage, aspiration, resilience and care for each other. There is a danger that there is a schism in our society into which the most vulnerable are falling. Austerity is crushing the weak, the sick and many others.’
He made a plea for a liberal approach to immigration, at a time when Ministers are debating whether or not to allow EU citizens the right to stay in the UK if they arrive during the Brexit transition period.
The archbishop, who backed the Remain campaign, said: ‘Welcoming strangers to our own country and integrating them into our own culture is important.’
He identified housing as one of the most pressing problems, saying: ‘We must build proper homes – and have a housing policy that is about creating communities.
‘There are inequalities in our healthcare system. The system lacks coherence and a sense of the values it was founded upon.
‘Many of our elderly are neglected and lonely… we cannot thrive while education is marked by cuts and by inequalities.’
The archbishop, whose book Reimagining Britain is published later this month, concluded: ‘We must use hope to heal for the future. We must be a warm, welcoming nation.’
‘Now we need a new narrative’