Welby urges 'ceasefire' from political war of insults over Brexit

The Archbishop of Canterbury has called for a 'ceasefire' on insults and personal attacks over Brexit.

Justin Welby referenced the legendary Christmas truce in 1914 during the First World War as he called for 'reconciliation and unity' between warring political factions over a hard or soft Brexit.

Nick Robinson interviews Justin Welby for a Today programme that was broadcast from Lambeth Palace. Twitter / Justin Welby

'It would be very good to have a ceasefire from insult and the use of pejorative terms about people at this time,' he told the BBC's Today programme which broadcast a special programme from Lambeth Palace on Thursday.

It comes after newspapers branded Tory rebel MPs as 'traitors' and 'mutineers'.

Welby was speaking the morning after 11 Conservative MPs voted with Labour to defeat the government and insist on a final parliamentary vote on the Brexit deal with the EU.

'We have made a decision about Brexit,' he said. 'That is clear. How we do that is a question for robust political argument.

'But there is a difference between disagreeing and personalised attacks. Those have to be avoided.'

He added: 'We need a political leadership that is united in their attitude to the future even if divided on policy.

In a wide-ranging interview the Archbishop was also asked about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in Windsor next May and about the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The Archbishop will give a blessing at a multi-faith service marking the six-month anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire at St Paul's Cathedral later today.

Welby said it was 'clear there was less attention given to the people in Grenfell Tower' than to more affluent tower blocks nearby and that betrayed a 'failure' in valuing every human being in the UK.

He praised the 'extraordinary community response' around Grenfell Tower but added it is 'not right' this should happen in a tower block in 21st century London.

News
What do we know about Simon of Cyrene?
What do we know about Simon of Cyrene?

Easter may have passed, but some figures in the story stay with us long after the day itself. One of those is Simon of Cyrene - a man who appears for only a moment, says nothing, and then disappears. And yet, his story carries lessons we can hold onto all year round.

There may not be a Christian revival, but Britain’s traditional churches aren’t doomed
There may not be a Christian revival, but Britain’s traditional churches aren’t doomed

There are good reasons to doubt that Britain is experiencing a Christian revival today – but that does not mean it is dying out.

Pastor preaches in Bristol city centre despite fears of arrest
Pastor preaches in Bristol city centre despite fears of arrest

A pastor has returned to street preaching in Bristol city centre just over four months after he was arrested for his comments on Islam and transgender ideology. 

The biblical backstory of Iran
The biblical backstory of Iran

Iran is back in the headlines. The word “Iran” does not appear in the Bible, but the names of preceding peoples and empires occupying that land today are written into the biblical narrative. This is the story …