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Archbishop of Canterbury criticises coalition policies Archbishop of Canterbury criticises coalition policies
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The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that the government is committing Britain to "radical, long-term policies for which no-one voted".The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that the government is committing Britain to "radical, long-term policies for which no-one voted".
Writing in the New Statesman magazine, Dr Rowan Williams raises concerns about the coalition's health, education and welfare reforms. Writing in the New Statesman magazine, Dr Rowan Williams raised concerns about the coalition's health, education and welfare reforms.
He said there was "indignation" due to a lack of "proper public argument".He said there was "indignation" due to a lack of "proper public argument".
A Downing Street spokesman said: "This government was elected to tackle Britain's deep-rooted problems."A Downing Street spokesman said: "This government was elected to tackle Britain's deep-rooted problems."
"Its clear policies on health, welfare and the economy are necessary to ensure we are on the right track," he added."Its clear policies on health, welfare and the economy are necessary to ensure we are on the right track," he added.
The article was written for the latest edition of the New Statesman, which Dr Williams guest edited. The magazine will go on sale on Thursday and extracts of the archbishop's words have already appeared on its website. The article was written for the latest edition of the New Statesman, which Dr Williams guest edited. The magazine is on sale from Thursday and extracts of the archbishop's words appear on its website.
'Plain fear''Plain fear'
In the piece, Dr Williams said the Big Society idea was viewed with "widespread suspicion".In the piece, Dr Williams said the Big Society idea was viewed with "widespread suspicion".
Talking specifically about the government's key health and education policies, he said they were being introduced at a "remarkable speed".Talking specifically about the government's key health and education policies, he said they were being introduced at a "remarkable speed".
"At the very least, there is an understandable anxiety about what democracy means in such a context," he said."At the very least, there is an understandable anxiety about what democracy means in such a context," he said.
"Government badly needs to hear just how much plain fear there is around such questions at present." In a wide-ranging attack, he accused the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition of creating "anxiety and anger" in the country by introducing reforms without sufficient debate.
In a wide-ranging attack, he accuses the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition of creating "anxiety and anger" in the country by introducing reforms without sufficient debate. Dr Williams was critical of Prime Minister David Cameron's flagship Big Society initiative, which aims to shrink the state and hand more control of services to volunteer groups, describing it as a "stale" slogan, viewed as an "opportunistic" cover for spending cuts.
Dr Williams is critical of Prime Minister David Cameron's flagship Big Society initiative, which aims to shrink the state and hand more control of services to volunteer groups, describing it as a "stale" slogan which is viewed as an "opportunistic" cover for spending cuts. The archbishop's article also said there was concern that the government would abandon its responsibility for tackling child poverty, illiteracy and poor access to the best schools.
href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8564540/Rowan-Williams-condemns-frightening-Coalition.html" >According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, the archbishop's article says there is concern that the government will abandon its responsibility for tackling child poverty, illiteracy, and increasing access to the best schools. "Government badly needs to hear just how much plain fear there is around questions such as these at present," he said.
"Government badly needs to hear just how much plain fear there is around questions such as these at present," he is quoted as saying. He also criticised the government's welfare reforms, complaining of a "quiet resurgence of the seductive language of 'deserving' and 'undeserving' poor" and the steady pressure to increase "what look like punitive responses to alleged abuses of the system".
He also criticises the government's welfare reforms, complaining of a "quiet resurgence of the seductive language of "deserving" and "undeserving" poor".
'Important figure''Important figure'
According to the Telegraph, he says there is pressure to increase "what look like punitive responses to alleged abuses of the system". BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said this was by no means the archbishop's first attack on government policy, but it was extraordinary for its breadth and it was the most overtly political yet.
The BBC's religious affairs correspondent, Robert Pigott, says this is by no means the archbishop's first attack on government policy, but it is extraordinary for its breadth and it is the most overtly political yet.
"Dr Williams even questioned the coalition's use of its democratic mandate, claiming that no-one had voted for its radical reforms to health and education, and that they were being forced through without 'proper public argument'," he said."Dr Williams even questioned the coalition's use of its democratic mandate, claiming that no-one had voted for its radical reforms to health and education, and that they were being forced through without 'proper public argument'," he said.
In addition to writing the leading article, Dr Williams also commissioned a wide range of essays, articles and reports from contributors such as author Philip Pullman, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks. In addition to writing the leading article, Dr Williams also commissioned a wide range of essays, articles and reports from contributors including author Philip Pullman, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks.
Downing Street dismissed Dr Williams' criticism of the Big Society as "a cover for cuts".Downing Street dismissed Dr Williams' criticism of the Big Society as "a cover for cuts".
A Downing Street spokesman said the prime minister had supported the idea of a Big Society long before the financial crisis and the need for significant savings.A Downing Street spokesman said the prime minister had supported the idea of a Big Society long before the financial crisis and the need for significant savings.
Pressed over the significance of Dr Williams' comments, the Downing Street spokesman said: "He's obviously an important figure in British society."Pressed over the significance of Dr Williams' comments, the Downing Street spokesman said: "He's obviously an important figure in British society."
The former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said there was a long-standing tradition of archbishops criticising government.The former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said there was a long-standing tradition of archbishops criticising government.
"Obviously people used to criticise our policies not just on Iraq and foreign policy but on domestic policy and reform as well. It's just part of the way things work," he said."Obviously people used to criticise our policies not just on Iraq and foreign policy but on domestic policy and reform as well. It's just part of the way things work," he said.
"He's perfectly entitled to put his position and I should imagine the government will say they're pretty relaxed about it and get on with whatever they want to do.""He's perfectly entitled to put his position and I should imagine the government will say they're pretty relaxed about it and get on with whatever they want to do."
Former Conservative cabinet minister Lord Tebbit, whose own government agenda was criticised by Lord Runcie when he was head of the Church of England, agreed the archbishop was entitled to his opinion.Former Conservative cabinet minister Lord Tebbit, whose own government agenda was criticised by Lord Runcie when he was head of the Church of England, agreed the archbishop was entitled to his opinion.
"No-one would dispute the right of the archbishop to make comments of a political kind in this area; it's part of his job to do so."No-one would dispute the right of the archbishop to make comments of a political kind in this area; it's part of his job to do so.
"And he's quite right that there are policies of the coalition for which nobody seemed to vote and policies for which people voted which are not being carried through by the coalition, but that's the problem of coalition.""And he's quite right that there are policies of the coalition for which nobody seemed to vote and policies for which people voted which are not being carried through by the coalition, but that's the problem of coalition."