Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has warned that the financial crisis could make the UK more vulnerable to political extremism and the rise of parties like the British National Party.

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, will tomorrow (10 February) support proposals forbidding Church of England clergy and lay staff joining racist organisations.

A senior Church of England bishop who has a number of British National Party (BNP) councillors in his diocese, has written in an anti-fascist magazine, urging Christians to vote against the party in the forthcoming local elections.