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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Archbishops unite against the BNP | Archbishops unite against the BNP |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have urged voters not to let anger over the expenses scandal drive them to vote for the BNP in next month's elections. | The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have urged voters not to let anger over the expenses scandal drive them to vote for the BNP in next month's elections. |
| Dr Rowan Williams and Dr John Sentamu said it would be "tragic" if people abstained or voted BNP at the local and European elections on 4 June. | Dr Rowan Williams and Dr John Sentamu said it would be "tragic" if people abstained or voted BNP at the local and European elections on 4 June. |
| Their statement said disillusionment was understandable but voters should not allow their anger to be exploited. | Their statement said disillusionment was understandable but voters should not allow their anger to be exploited. |
| The BNP said the bishops did not represent the views of the public. | The BNP said the bishops did not represent the views of the public. |
| 'Great vigilance' | 'Great vigilance' |
| Dr Williams and Dr Sentamu said the forthcoming elections were taking place "at a time of extraordinary turbulence in our democratic system". | Dr Williams and Dr Sentamu said the forthcoming elections were taking place "at a time of extraordinary turbulence in our democratic system". |
| "The temptation to stay away or register a protest vote in order to send a negative signal to the parties represented at Westminster will be strong. | "The temptation to stay away or register a protest vote in order to send a negative signal to the parties represented at Westminster will be strong. |
| "In our view, however, it would be tragic if the understandable sense of anger and disillusionment with some MPs over recent revelations led voters to shun the ballot box." | "In our view, however, it would be tragic if the understandable sense of anger and disillusionment with some MPs over recent revelations led voters to shun the ballot box." |
| It is an opportunity for renewing the vision of a community united by mutual respect Dr Rowan Williams Dr John Sentamu | It is an opportunity for renewing the vision of a community united by mutual respect Dr Rowan Williams Dr John Sentamu |
| The archbishops appealed to voters to exercise "great vigilance" in making their decision on who to vote for. | |
| Some parties, they said, would exploit the current political climate to foster "fear and division within communities, especially between people of different faiths or racial background". | Some parties, they said, would exploit the current political climate to foster "fear and division within communities, especially between people of different faiths or racial background". |
| They said rather than caving in to anger, the elections were a chance to show higher ideals. | They said rather than caving in to anger, the elections were a chance to show higher ideals. |
| "It is an opportunity for renewing the vision of a community united by mutual respect, high ethical standards and the pursuit of justice and peace. | "It is an opportunity for renewing the vision of a community united by mutual respect, high ethical standards and the pursuit of justice and peace. |
| "Those whom we elect to local councils and the European Parliament will represent us and our collective interests for many years to come. | "Those whom we elect to local councils and the European Parliament will represent us and our collective interests for many years to come. |
| We have a perfectly legitimate right to oppose multi-culturalism and we reject this criticism utterly BNP spokesman | We have a perfectly legitimate right to oppose multi-culturalism and we reject this criticism utterly BNP spokesman |
| "It is crucial to elect those who wish to uphold the democratic values and who wish to work for the common good in a spirit of public service, which urgently needs to be reaffirmed in these difficult days," they said. | "It is crucial to elect those who wish to uphold the democratic values and who wish to work for the common good in a spirit of public service, which urgently needs to be reaffirmed in these difficult days," they said. |
| "We hope that electors will use their vote on 4 June to renew the vision of a community united by the common good, public service and the pursuit of justice." | "We hope that electors will use their vote on 4 June to renew the vision of a community united by the common good, public service and the pursuit of justice." |
| The BNP said it alone was standing up against what it claimed was the "Islamification of Britain". | The BNP said it alone was standing up against what it claimed was the "Islamification of Britain". |
| A BNP spokesman told the BBC: "We have a perfectly legitimate right to oppose multi-culturalism and we reject this criticism utterly. | A BNP spokesman told the BBC: "We have a perfectly legitimate right to oppose multi-culturalism and we reject this criticism utterly. |
| "If they are so concerned about the BNP, why haven't the Christian establishment come to us for discourse? | "If they are so concerned about the BNP, why haven't the Christian establishment come to us for discourse? |
| "These Church leaders don't represent the views of the public." | "These Church leaders don't represent the views of the public." |
| 'Rare direct intervention' | |
| The spokesman said the archbishops were trying to make themselves relevant in the modern world and that "the Church should stay out of politics". | The spokesman said the archbishops were trying to make themselves relevant in the modern world and that "the Church should stay out of politics". |
| In its campaigning for the European elections the BNP has used the image of Jesus on a poster suggesting that He would vote for the party. | |
| The BBC's religious affairs correspondent, Robert Pigott, said the archbishops' appeal was a "rare direct intervention in the electoral process." | |
| "Anglican bishops have called for a boycott of the British National Party before but never with such unanimity and in such forthright terms," he said. | |
| The Right Reverend Peter Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden, said the archbishops' statement represented the feelings of all the Church's bishops. | |
| He told the BBC: "The bishops were meeting together last week and were concerned about people voting in protest about what's been happening, and wanted to put out a statement that said that quite clearly when people exercise their vote, they need to vote for parties that represent justice and fairness and community, and not extremist parties." | |
| In February the Church's general synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of measures to stop clergy joining the BNP. |