Archbishop of Canterbury sparks anger with left-wing rant blasting Theresa May’s policies and saying gig-economy firms are ‘evil’
Justin Welby told to 'have the courage to remove his dog collar' after delivering left-wing tirade against the government
THE Archbishop of Canterbury sparked fresh outrage today after delivering a left-wing tirade against Theresa May's policies saying he had a duty to speak out because Jesus too was “highly political”.
Speaking at the TUC conference, Justin Welby attacked the benefits system, called for the Government’s flagship Universal Credit scheme to be halted and said zero hours contracts should be banned.
He also backed Labour’s pledge to overhaul the gig economy, which he described as “a reincarnation of an ancient evil”, called for tax hikes and said the living wage should be higher.
Mr Welby also attacked firms like Amazon for paying “almost nothing” in taxes and “leaching off the taxpayer”.
And he said every worker should join a trade union.
Furious Tory MPs condemned Mr Welby for using his high profile to spout Labour’s attack lines and told him to “have the courage to remove his dog collar”.
But the Archbishop justified his latest political intervention by comparing himself to Jesus and saying the Bible was “political from one end to the other”.
Mr Welby told union delegates in Manchester: “Jesus was highly political, He told the rich that, they would face woes. He criticised the King of the time as a fox.
“He spoke harsh words to leaders of the nations when they were uncaring of the needy.”
Mr Welby won a standing ovation from trade union delegates when he attacked the benefits system.
He called for the rollout of Universal Credit to be halted, saying it had left people worse off.
The Archbishop said: "It was supposed to make it simpler and more efficient. It has not done that. It has left too many people worse off, putting them at risk of hunger, debt, rent arrears and food banks.
"When Universal Credit comes into a local area the number of people going to food banks goes up.
"What is clear is if they cannot get it right they need to stop rolling it out."
But Tory MPs hit back at his latest political intervention.
The Sun says
IF the Archbishop of Canterbury wants to sit on Corbyn’s front bench why doesn’t he bin the day job and stand for office?
He’d be perfect, too.
His simpleton’s-eye view of left-wing politics as somehow morally superior chimes perfectly with that of the dunces he clearly aspires to join.
It’s obvious to everyone else that much higher taxes, crippling debt levels and the destruction of the gig economy in which vast numbers enjoy making a living will mean mass unemployment.
And telling every worker to man the unions’ barricades is the fast track back to the basket-case economy of the 1970s, when the brothers last wielded power.
What is moral, Archbishop, about an ideology that costs families their livelihoods and destroys the public finances?
If Justin Welby is bored trying to entice people to fill his emptying pews he should be honest, enter politics instead and campaign for votes.
Not use the Church’s dwindling authority to endorse a Marxist roadmap to ruin.
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Tory MP Charles Walker blasted: "The Archbishop of Canterbury is becoming increasingly involved in politics.
“Of course, he is entitled to do this. However, he should have the courage to remove his dog collar and promote his views from the same position as any other politician.
"There are a diversity of views as to what is best for the economy, but the Archbishop only seems interested in presenting John McDonnell's point of view."
Amazon hit back, saying it had created more than 25,000 good jobs with "good pay and benefits" across the UK since 2010 - as well as investing over £9.3 billion in the country.
A spokesman said: “We pay all taxes required in the UK and every country where we operate.
"In May 2015, to ensure we had the best business structure to serve our customers going forward, we established a local country branch of Amazon EU Sarl in the UK, with all retail revenues, expenses, profits and taxes due now accounted for in the UK."