Justin Welby’s political salvoes set him at odds with public opinion

SIR – The hand-wringing, Left-leaning establishment criticises Conservative governments as a matter of course, but offers no workable solutions.

The article by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby (“Put humanity at the heart of our asylum system”, Comment, April 27), is typical in this respect. He makes no distinction between genuine asylum seekers and economic migrants. Additionally, he does not acknowledge that the people crossing the English Channel in dinghies have already passed through two or more “safe” countries before attempting to enter this country illegally.

Archbishop Welby and his fellow travellers should spend some time with ordinary people. Then they might understand why the majority of the British public supports the Government’s attempts to stem the flow of illegal immigration.

Dr Chris Topping

Pilling, Lancashire

SIR – The Archbishop of Canterbury provides a heartfelt and well-reasoned – if controversial – account of his position regarding the Government’s policy on illegal migration.

However, this was not the case in his Easter sermon, where he said the policy would not stand up to the scrutiny of God, thereby usurping divine judgment.

He should, perhaps, consider Christ’s injunction to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s” – or at least be as vocal when supporting the Government’s policies as he is when opposing them.

Richard Manchester

Sanderstead, Surrey

SIR – Justin Welby criticises Priti Patel’s “hostile” system, but what would he prefer – one in which, to all intents and purposes, we accept everyone before they have to cross the Channel?

Instead of this fantasy, why not give Ms Patel’s idea a chance?

Kevin Platt

Walsall, Staffordshire

SIR – Since Archbishop Welby provides no practical solution to the migrant situation, while criticising the Government over its recent proposals, he might be better suited to a career in politics.

In any case, he is not suited to the cloth: his inaction during the Covid pandemic has resulted in parishes losing their vicars, without any replacements in sight.

The last two years would have been the perfect time for the Church to step up and offer pastoral care to those who needed it – yet it was nowhere to be seen.

Jim Bell Hereford

SIR – Considering the number of church closures in recent years, and the dwindling congregations in those that remain open, I can’t help wondering on whose behalf Archbishop Welby thinks he is speaking out.

Vincent Hearne Chinon, Indre-et-loire, France