• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Thursday, May 22, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Archbishop of Canterbury challenges Johnson’s ‘inflammatory’ language

The Canary by The Canary
27 October 2019
in News, UK
Reading Time: 3 mins read
170 2
A A
0
Home UK News
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Archbishop of Canterbury has taken Boris Johnson to task for his use of “inflammatory” language through the Brexit debate.

Justin Welby told the Sunday Times there was a risk of pouring “petrol” on the country’s divisions on the issue of Britain’s departure from the European Union.

The archbishop said Johnson had come to symbolise a climate in which Britain had become consumed by “an abusive and binary approach to political decisions”, and where those with opposing views treated each other as “total” enemies.

In an era in which social media had made it “extraordinarily dangerous to use careless comments”, and in which hate speech was on the rise, Welby called for political leaders to take more care with their language.

He said his criticisms were not confined to Johnson and his government, but made it clear he considered the prime minister partly to blame for the fact society had become “quite broken”.

“I think we have become addicted to an abusive and binary approach to political decisions: ‘It’s either this or you’re my total enemy’,” Welby told the paper. He continued:

There have been inflammatory words used on all sides, in parliament and outside — ‘traitor’, ‘fascist’, all kinds of really bad things have been said at the highest level in politics.

Welby said he was “shocked” by Mr Johnson’s recent dismissal of concerns extreme language could encourage death threats against politicians as “humbug”.

And he added political leaders could no longer behave the same way as Johnson’s hero, Winston Churchill.

“Churchill was well known for his somewhat inflammatory putdowns in parliament,” the archbishop said. He added:

But this is happening at a time when we have social media, which amplifies things.

In a time of deep uncertainty, a much smaller amount of petrol is a much more dangerous thing than it was in a time when people were secure.

There is a great danger to doing it when we’re already in a very polarised and volatile situation.

Welby said action was needed to heal divisions “at almost every level of society, including the political level of society”, adding:

I don’t only blame government. I think we are quite broken.

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Jeremy Corbyn to pledge that Labour will ‘take on the wealthy and powerful’

Next Post

Labour MP offers to sit down and talk to vandals who painted ‘gay slur’ on office

Next Post

Labour MP offers to sit down and talk to vandals who painted ‘gay slur’ on office

Jeremy Corbyn says Labour will 'stop Boris Johnson' and is ready to win a general election

Jeremy Corbyn, Boris Johnson and Jo Swinson

Lib Dems carry on making fools of themselves as Tories reject push for early election

As Daesh leader Baghdadi dies, a journalist hits Trump with the only question really worth asking

As Daesh leader Baghdadi dies, a journalist hits Trump with the only question really worth asking

Jeremy Corbyn and Chile protesters

Jeremy Corbyn stands with ordinary people bravely fighting for change in Latin America

Please login to join discussion
Digital Surveillance: The Hidden Cost of Convenience
Tech

Digital Surveillance: The Hidden Cost of Convenience

by Nathan Spears
22 May 2025
horoscope
Horoscopes

Horoscope today: your 24-hour briefing for life, love, and more

by Steve Topple
22 May 2025
Israel Netanyahu
Analysis

Verbal condemnation of Israel from European leaders is not enough

by Alaa Shamali
21 May 2025
TransActual toilet Supreme Court
News

Trans advocacy organisation unveils “Third Toilet” outside Supreme Court

by HG
21 May 2025
Labour polling Starmer
Analysis

New poll shows Labour’s pandering to the far right is failing miserably

by Ed Sykes
21 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

Tech
Nathan Spears

Digital Surveillance: The Hidden Cost of Convenience

horoscope
Horoscopes
Steve Topple

Horoscope today: your 24-hour briefing for life, love, and more

Israel Netanyahu
Analysis
Alaa Shamali

Verbal condemnation of Israel from European leaders is not enough

TransActual toilet Supreme Court
News
HG

Trans advocacy organisation unveils “Third Toilet” outside Supreme Court

ADVERTISEMENT
Analysis
Nathan Spears

Vote for the Press Photograph of the Year 2024

Image by Burkard Meyendriesch from Pixabay
Feature
Nathan Spears

Why Santiago Ways is the Leading Choice for Walking the Camino de Santiago

Environment
Nathan Spears

EU elections point to growing public desire for new policymaking approach in Brussels