This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8065583.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Archbishops unite against the BNP Archbishops call for BNP boycott
(39 minutes 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. They 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 public's views.
'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". In a joint statement, issued on behalf of the Church of England House of Bishops, 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 SentamuIt 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. The archbishops appealed to voters to exercise "great vigilance" in making their decision.
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. BNP leader Nick Griffin said support for the party was now sufficient that is was time "the Church of England grew up and decided to sit down and talk with us about the issues that we are getting across for our supporters".
We have a perfectly legitimate right to oppose multi-culturalism and we reject this criticism utterly BNP spokesman The archbishops were trying to make themselves relevant in the modern world 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. A BNP spokesman added: "We're the only people standing up against the new religion of multi-culturalism and the Islamification of Britain.
"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." "These church leaders don't represent the views of the public. The archbishops were trying to make themselves relevant in the modern world and the Church should stay out of politics."
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.
"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."
'Rare direct intervention''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". On a European election campaign poster, the BNP has used an image of Jesus suggesting that he would vote for the party.
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.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg said the church should stay out of politics.Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg said the church should stay out of politics.
"I believe politics and religion should be separate. I would like to see the church disestablished," he told BBC's Politics Show. "I don't think you beat the BNP by telling people how to vote. You get out there and say we have got the solutions, they haven't. They peddle hate and they don't actually provide people with hope," he told BBC's Politics Show.
"I don't think you beat the BNP by telling people how to vote. You get out there and say we have got the solutions, they haven't. They peddle hate and they don't actually provide people with hope." Polly Toynbee, president of the British Humanist Association, supported the church's intervention to speak out against a party they considered to be unchristian.
The BBC's religious affairs correspondent, Robert Pigott, said the archbishops' appeal was a "rare direct intervention in the electoral process." The BBC's religious affairs correspondent, Robert Pigott, said the archbishops' appeal had been 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. Anglican bishops have called for a BNP boycott 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. The Right Reverend Peter Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden, said the archbishops' statement represented the feelings of all the Church's bishops and had come about after a bishops' meeting last week.
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.In February the Church's general synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of measures to stop clergy joining the BNP.