Archbishop of Canterbury calls for new narrative based on solidarity and resilience

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

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.

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.”

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.”