Justin Welby urges politicians to calm language and end Brexit division
2 min read
The Archbishop of Canterbury has urged politicians to tone down their language in an effort to heal Britain’s Brexit divisions.
Justin Welby told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that the country was in “crisis” because of Brexit as he called on MPs put an end to angry exchanges and “move towards reconciliation”.
Brexiteers and Remainers, he added, must stop treating each other as enemies.
Archbishop Welby said: “As a religious leader I say yes this is a crisis, but let’s make it a crisis where we restrain our language…
“I think the way forward is there needs to be a reluctance to treat the other as an enemy but to say we are on nation, one people.
“And I hope and request that political leaders will be moderate in their language in the next few months, that we will calm down the hatreds that have arisen over the last few years, that we will move towards reconciliation.”
Archbishop Welby has previously revealed that he voted Remain in the EU referendum, but today he called for the UK to unify around the result of the vote.
He said: “We have voted. That’s the decision we have taken and now we must make it work for the common good, in the national interest and so that Britain has a deep sense of commitment around the world, [and] is a global force for good."
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