Archbishop of Canterbury warns about Brexit divisions and austerity 'crushing the weak'
'There is a schism in our society into which the most vulnerable are falling,' says bishop
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Austerity is “crushing the weak” and Brexit has divided the country, the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned.
In a dramatic assessment of the state of the country, Justin Welby said there is a danger of a “schism” in society that the most vulnerable are falling into.
The Anglican leader issued a plea for Britons to be “generous” in adapting to newcomers to the country and called for people to show “care for each other”.
In an article for the Mail on Sunday, he raised concerns about the Government’s austerity drive.
Mr Welby wrote: “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.”
Mr Welby, who backed the Remain campaign in the EU referendum, called for tolerance.
He said: “Welcoming strangers to our own country and integrating them into our own culture is important.
“We must be generous and allow ourselves to change with the newcomers and create a deeper, richer way of life.”
The Archbishop also called on the Government to tackle the housing crisis and warned of the importance of creating new communities.
He added: “We must build proper homes – and have a housing policy that is about creating communities, not just bricks and mortar.”
Press Association
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments