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| Bishops attack 'immoral' Labour | Bishops attack 'immoral' Labour |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Five Anglican bishops have attacked the government by calling into question the morality of Labour policy. | Five Anglican bishops have attacked the government by calling into question the morality of Labour policy. |
| The bishops of Durham, Winchester, Hulme, Manchester and Carlisle told the Sunday Telegraph the UK was beset by family breakdown, debt and poverty. | The bishops of Durham, Winchester, Hulme, Manchester and Carlisle told the Sunday Telegraph the UK was beset by family breakdown, debt and poverty. |
| Bishop of Manchester the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch said Labour was "beguiled by money" and "morally corrupt". | Bishop of Manchester the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch said Labour was "beguiled by money" and "morally corrupt". |
| But Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell, who represents the Church in the Commons, said the comments were "nonsense". | But Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell, who represents the Church in the Commons, said the comments were "nonsense". |
| Meanwhile, in his New Year message next week, Gordon Brown is expected to say the recession will be a test of the country's character. | Meanwhile, in his New Year message next week, Gordon Brown is expected to say the recession will be a test of the country's character. |
| 'Inevitable come-uppance' | 'Inevitable come-uppance' |
| Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Tom Wright, accused minister of making promises that had later "vanished into thin air". The government isn't telling people who are already deep in debt to stop overextending themselves Rt Rev Stephen LoweBishop of Hulme Recession 'a test of character' | Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Tom Wright, accused minister of making promises that had later "vanished into thin air". The government isn't telling people who are already deep in debt to stop overextending themselves Rt Rev Stephen LoweBishop of Hulme Recession 'a test of character' |
| "We have not seen a raising of aspirations in the last 13 years, but instead there is a sense of hopelessness. While the rich have got richer, the poor have got poorer," he said. | "We have not seen a raising of aspirations in the last 13 years, but instead there is a sense of hopelessness. While the rich have got richer, the poor have got poorer," he said. |
| "When a big bank or car company goes bankrupt, it gets bailed out, but no one seems to be bailing out the ordinary people who are losing their jobs and seeing their savings diminished." | "When a big bank or car company goes bankrupt, it gets bailed out, but no one seems to be bailing out the ordinary people who are losing their jobs and seeing their savings diminished." |
| In a separate interview with the paper, Bishop McCulloch echoed those criticisms, just days after he used his Christmas Day sermon to warn that society was facing an inevitable come-uppance for its "buy now, pay later" culture. | In a separate interview with the paper, Bishop McCulloch echoed those criticisms, just days after he used his Christmas Day sermon to warn that society was facing an inevitable come-uppance for its "buy now, pay later" culture. |
| The Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, the Church's Bishop for Urban Life and Faith and also the Bishop of Hulme, said he feared Britain would simply return to a "financial system based on indebtedness" after the current crisis. | The Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, the Church's Bishop for Urban Life and Faith and also the Bishop of Hulme, said he feared Britain would simply return to a "financial system based on indebtedness" after the current crisis. |
| "The government isn't telling people who are already deep in debt to stop overextending themselves, but instead is urging us to spend more," he said. | "The government isn't telling people who are already deep in debt to stop overextending themselves, but instead is urging us to spend more," he said. |
| "That is morally suspect and morally feeble. It is unfair and irresponsible of the government to put pressure on the public to spend in order to revive the economy." | "That is morally suspect and morally feeble. It is unfair and irresponsible of the government to put pressure on the public to spend in order to revive the economy." |
| He later told the BBC he wanted to see an end to "the notion of greed, of getting something you want immediately using the credit card". | He later told the BBC he wanted to see an end to "the notion of greed, of getting something you want immediately using the credit card". |
| "I would like [politicians] to be engaging in a far wider national debate about what sort of economy should emerge from this crisis," he added. | "I would like [politicians] to be engaging in a far wider national debate about what sort of economy should emerge from this crisis," he added. |
| Meanwhile, the Bishops of Carlisle and Winchester claimed ministers had squandered their opportunity to transform society. | |
| The Rt Rev Graham Dow, the Bishop of Carlisle, said: "I agree with the Conservatives that the breakdown of the family is a crucial element in the difficulties of our present society. | The Rt Rev Graham Dow, the Bishop of Carlisle, said: "I agree with the Conservatives that the breakdown of the family is a crucial element in the difficulties of our present society. |
| "The government hasn't given sufficient support to that because it is scared of losing votes." Not only is the government seeking to help those on lower incomes, it is leading the fight in the Third World to relieve poverty Sir Stuart Bell, Labour MP | "The government hasn't given sufficient support to that because it is scared of losing votes." Not only is the government seeking to help those on lower incomes, it is leading the fight in the Third World to relieve poverty Sir Stuart Bell, Labour MP |
| BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said while it was not the first time the Church and state have clashed in recent times, the bishops' language was "particularly robust". | BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said while it was not the first time the Church and state have clashed in recent times, the bishops' language was "particularly robust". |
| Only last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury launched a public attack on the government. | Only last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury launched a public attack on the government. |
| Dr Rowan Williams said Gordon Brown's plans to spend more in order to tackle the recession were like an "addict returning to the drug", and suggested the economy had been going in the wrong direction for decades. | Dr Rowan Williams said Gordon Brown's plans to spend more in order to tackle the recession were like an "addict returning to the drug", and suggested the economy had been going in the wrong direction for decades. |
| 'Bishops' palaces' | 'Bishops' palaces' |
| Sir Stuart, who is the Second Church Estates Commissioner, said: "Not only is the government seeking to help those on lower incomes, it is leading the fight in the Third World to relieve poverty - a task Gordon Brown pursued in all his years as chancellor and since as prime minister. | Sir Stuart, who is the Second Church Estates Commissioner, said: "Not only is the government seeking to help those on lower incomes, it is leading the fight in the Third World to relieve poverty - a task Gordon Brown pursued in all his years as chancellor and since as prime minister. |
| "It is also nothing short of nonsense to say that the government's policies are designed to win a future election. They are designed to assist all sections of the community through the difficulties that face them. | "It is also nothing short of nonsense to say that the government's policies are designed to win a future election. They are designed to assist all sections of the community through the difficulties that face them. |
| "Possibly the bishops would prefer the proposed policies of the Conservatives, to reduce taxes by reducing public expenditure - thus ensuring the closure of schools and hospitals and a reduction in services - in which case they would allow themselves the luxury of further criticism." | "Possibly the bishops would prefer the proposed policies of the Conservatives, to reduce taxes by reducing public expenditure - thus ensuring the closure of schools and hospitals and a reduction in services - in which case they would allow themselves the luxury of further criticism." |
| Sir Stuart added that it "ill-behoved" those who lived in "bishops' palaces" to condemn government policies aiming at alleviating poverty. | Sir Stuart added that it "ill-behoved" those who lived in "bishops' palaces" to condemn government policies aiming at alleviating poverty. |
| A government spokeswoman said "fairness" was at the core of its agenda. | A government spokeswoman said "fairness" was at the core of its agenda. |
| She said: "The government has a strong record of helping people out of poverty. We have also made record increases in the amount invested in public services over the last decade. | She said: "The government has a strong record of helping people out of poverty. We have also made record increases in the amount invested in public services over the last decade. |
| "When times are tough we believe that people should be given more support, not less." | "When times are tough we believe that people should be given more support, not less." |