Commenting on a recent exchange between an inner city clergyman and a former deputy prime minister about economic divisions in Britain, Simon Ba
Commenting on a recent exchange between an inner city clergyman and a former deputy prime minister about economic divisions in Britain, Simon Barrow, co-director of the beliefs and values think-tank Ekklesia, said:
“The Rev Paul Nicolson is surely right to challenge Lord Heseltine and other politicians and media commentators on their easy dismissals of concern expressed by the Anglican archbishops about the unacceptable extent of poverty and inequality in austerity Britain.
“Both the facts and lived experience, including the alarming rise of foodbanks in one of the richest societies on earth, backs their claim.
“Of course the demographics and economics of regional and national inequality are complex, but this should not be used as an excuse to avoid the challenge of poverty and the massive gaps in income and wealth to which the archbishops, along with charities, other churches, academics and others are pointing.
“The need to address inequality and the suffering caused by policies that make life increasingly difficult for the poor, the vulnerable, the disabled and sick people in Britain should be at the top of the agenda for all parties and candidates in the forthcoming General Election.”
See: Heseltine challenged on criticism of Archbishops’ inequality claims: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/21327
* ‘Combatting the denial of poverty and inequality’ – Ekklesia, January 2015: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/21318
* Archbishops robustly challenge government on income inequality: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/21305
* More on General Election issues from Ekklesia: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/generalelection2015