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Archbishop of Canterbury appeals for Theresa May to work with other parties on Brexit | Archbishop of Canterbury appeals for Theresa May to work with other parties on Brexit |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The Archbishop of Canterbury has called on Theresa May to set up a cross-party commission to steer her withdrawal talks with the EU, claiming it would reduce “poison” in the Brexit debate. | |
The Rt Rev Justin Welby urged the move as he compared the current situation to the two world wars when Britain was run by coalitions. | The Rt Rev Justin Welby urged the move as he compared the current situation to the two world wars when Britain was run by coalitions. |
The Anglican leader also contrasted the inspiring “spirit of Grenfell” with the divisive “zero-sum, winner takes all” Brexit rows in Westminster. | |
Writing in The Mail on Sunday, he said: “We need the politicians to find a way of neutralising the temptation to take minor advantage domestically from these great events. | |
“We must develop a forum, or commission, or some political tool, which can hold the ring for the differences to be fought out, so that a commonly agreed negotiating aim is achieved. | |
“The future of this country is not a zero-sum, winner takes all calculation but must rest on the reconciled common good arrived at thorough good debate and disagreement.” | |
Referring to the commission, the Archbishop said: “It would be under the authority of Parliament, especially the Commons. | |
“It would need to be cross-party and chaired by a senior politician, on Privy Council terms. | |
“It could not bind Parliament, but – well structured – it could draw much of the poison from the debate.” | |
It comes after senior figures across the Commons have called for a more inclusive approach to delivering Brexit. | It comes after senior figures across the Commons have called for a more inclusive approach to delivering Brexit. |
The Independent revealed on Saturday how backbench MPs from all parties are forming plans to defeat the Ms May’s hard Brexit proposals in key Commons votes. | |
But Priti Patel, Secretary of State for International Development, rejected the Archbishop’s idea, telling BBC Radio Five Live’s Pienaar's Politics: “I think the point is, this isn't about commissions. The public voted last year to leave the European Union. | |
“Our job as Government now is obviously securing the right deal for the country and not re-running those arguments of Remain and Leave from last year.” | |