UK’s top church official criticises Boris Johnson over toxic political debate

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, says that highly-charged Brexit battle has created two implacably opposed camps

Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, says political point-scoring has ramped up tensions over Brexit. AFP

The UK’s most senior religious figure has rebuked Boris Johnson, the prime minister, for inflammatory language that has entrenched national divisions over Brexit.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and most senior cleric in the Church of England, said he was shocked when Mr Johnson dismissed fears about attacks on MPs as “humbug”.

The archbishop claimed that the confrontational style of British politics was amplified by social media that had fuelled wider public anger as the UK grappled with the task of leaving the European Union.

“I think we have become addicted to an abusive and binary approach to political decisions: ‘It’s either this or you’re my total enemy,” he told The Sunday Times.

A British opposition MP, Jo Cox, was murdered by a right-wing extremist days before the 2016 referendum when the UK voted by 52 per cent to 48 per cent to leave the European Union.

Tensions have risen as parliament has refused to support two ‘divorce agreements’ with the EU struck agreed by Mr Johnson and his predecessor Theresa May that were designed to ease the economic turmoil of departure and pave the way for a future trade deal.

Mr Johnson’s “humbug” comment last month came after an MP urged him to moderate his comments after receiving death threats following highly-charged scenes both inside and outside parliament over Brexit.

“I was shocked by that,” Mr Welby was quoted as saying by the newspaper. “It should never be dismissed in that way.

“Death threats are really serious and they need to be taken seriously. All sides need to say: ‘That is totally and utterly unacceptable’.”

Only one in seven Britons describes themselves as belonging to the Church of England, according to Britain’s major survey of social attitudes. The political influence of senior religious leaders is limited, although 26 bishops sit in the upper house of parliament.

Senior church leaders have criticised the upheaval caused by Brexit and said the “lies… and misrepresentation” of political leaders was cited as one of the factors that threated the social fabric of Britain. A group of bishops warned in August against the dangers of a no-deal Brexit on the poorest in society.

Parliament will vote on Monday over plans to hold national elections on December 12 to break the political deadlock after MPs blocked Mr Johnson’s plans to leave the European Union before October 31.

The government requires a two-thirds majority in parliament to hold an early vote before the next planned election in 2022 but Mr Johnson was hoping to capitalise in splits within the opposition to secure one. Polls suggest he is in prime position to form a new government if an election is held.

The main opposition Labour party said that it wants a no-deal Brexit to be ruled out before it is prepared to back an election. But two smaller parties say they will conditionally back the plan if an election was held on December 9 – move dismissed as a “stunt” by the government.