The Archbishop of Canterbury launched an extraordinary attack on modern working conditions describing them as the 'reincarnation of ancient evil' in a strident speech to trade unionists.

Justin Welby hit out at the 'gig economy', under which workers are denied benefits and are paid per job, and at zero-hours contracts which offer employees no guarantees of work.

He also also attacked tax-avoiding online giants, accusing Amazon of 'leeching off the taxpayer'.

Justin Welby speaking at the TUC's 150th anniversary conference in Manchester. He hit out at the 'gig economy' and at zero-hours contracts during his speech

Insisting that Jesus himself had been a 'highly political' figure, he demanded an end to the Government's flagship Universal Credit benefit reforms, saying the changes had heightened the risk of people going hungry.

The Archbishop's speech at the TUC's 150th anniversary conference received a standing ovation.

But the astonishing intervention last night drew criticism from Tory MPs including former leader Iain Duncan Smith, the architect of Universal Credit.

Welby attacked tax-avoiding online giants, accusing Amazon (pictured is an Amazon warehouse) of 'leeching off the taxpayer'

More than one accused Archbishop Welby of expounding the views of hard left Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell – a man who was named in his speech along with Tony Benn.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby

Charles Walker, MP for Broxbourne, said the archbishop was backing 'John McDonnell's point of view'.

Tory MP Ben Bradley tweeted: 'Not clear to me when or how it can possibly be appropriate for the Archbishop of Canterbury to be appearing at TUC conference or parroting Labour policy.'

He added: 'There are a diversity of views as to what is best for the economy, but [he] only seems interested in presenting John McDonnell's point of view.'

McDonnell said the Bishop was not backing any one party but simply 'telling it like it is.'

In his address the Archbishop took aim at Amazon, which has been accused of not paying its fair share of corporation tax.

'Not paying taxes speaks of the absence of commitment to our shared humanity, to solidarity and justice,' he said. 'If you earn money from a community, you should pay your share of tax.

Welby said of the gig economy 'It is the reincarnation of ancient evil,' he said. 'Today there are some who view that kind of oppression of the employed as a virtue.'

'They don't pay a real living wage, so the taxpayer must support their workers with benefits; and having leeched off the taxpayer once they don't pay for our defence, for security, for stability, for justice, for health, for equality, for education.'

A spokesman for Amazon said: 'We pay all taxes required in the UK and every country where we operate. Amazon has created more than 25,000 good jobs with good pay and benefits across Britain and we are proud of the work they do on behalf of customers every day.'

Condemning the so-called gig economy and zero-hours contracts the Archbishop said they were 'nothing new'.

The astonishing intervention last night drew criticism from Tory MPs including former leader Iain Duncan Smith (pictured), the architect of Universal Credit

He also spoke of how he had seen a speech against austerity by Tony Benn, and mentioned John McDonnell's docker father who, he said, had experienced the gig economy.

'It is the reincarnation of ancient evil,' he said. 'Today there are some who view that kind of oppression of the employed as a virtue.'

In his speech, he said he did not apologise for straying into politics. 'The Bible is political from one end to the other,' he said.