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REX/David Hartley
UK News

Tory MP 'puzzled' by Church criticism

Charlie Elphicke, the Member for Dover and Deal, has been speaking after comments by both Archbishops of Canterbury and York were deemed to be disapproving of the Government.

In his new book 'On Rock or Sand', Dr John Sentamu warns that the poor are being left behind and entire cities are in danger of being cast aside.

Meanwhile Most Revd Justin Welby expressed his concern of the growing economic divide between London and the rest of the country.

He told ITV News: "There remains a significant level of inequality, which is widening. And certainly having moved down to London only two years ago, having lived away from London for 25 years, you felt as though you'd moved into a slightly different country."

Mr Elphicke, while welcoming the role of Church in politics, is unhappy at some of the comments.

Speaking to Premier, he said: "I'm quite puzzled as to whether the Church is looking at the same statistics that I'm looking at.

"Inequality has fallen under this government, the gap between the rich and the poor is smaller than it was.

"Poverty has been falling...unemployment has been falling as well. I think that's an incredible record considering that when we came into the office, the country was on the brink of going over the edge."

Speaking at the launch of his book, the Archbishop dismissed the idea that he was being critical of the government.

He said anyone who thought that was 'mistaken' and 'missing the point'. He went on to say it was a duty of the Church to set moral values for the country and church leaders couldn't stay true to their calling if they were prevented from speaking into national issues.

Listen to Charlie Elphicke speaking with Premier's Marcus Jones.

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