The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams has waded into the debate over withdrawal from the European Union insisting it could leave the UK “dangerously dependent” on the City.
He said leaving the EU would be a “deeply regressive” step and claimed Britain would have almost nothing else “distinctive” to offer outside it. Going it alone could turn the country into an “offshore financial facility”, he added.
The former Archbishop also said it was also becoming impossible to have a “reasonable conversation” about immigration in the UK at present.
And he suggested that hostility towards the EU was being fuelled by an increasingly assertive sense of English identity, partly as a response to Scottish nationalism.
RE: “and claimed Britain would have almost nothing else “distinctive†to offer outside it.”
It is wonderful to have a former Archbishop of Canterbury so confident and assured about Britain’s abilities. This kind of attitude certainly explains a lot about him and his ideologies.
RE: “it was also becoming impossible to have a “reasonable conversation†about immigration in the UK at present.”
Goodness me, I wonder whyever that is. Let us puzzle on it for a few seconds and really try to wrap our minds around why on earth immigration in the UK is so very very challenging to talk about now “reasonably” [you know — kinda like how he wanted everybody to talk “reasonably” about installing gay marriage.]
RE: “fuelled by an increasingly assertive sense of English identity, partly as a response to Scottish nationalism.”
Yes, that’s it, right there. The dreadful and appalling “increasingly assertive sense of English identity” that is occurring is precisely because of the dreadful and appalling increasingly assertive sense of Scottish identity. There are no other reasons that spring to mind.
Wowzer does he get a lot wrong quickly. Let me fall back on the well-established and polished RC response to such interviews.
Why, he must have been misquoted because . . . of the language/translation issues . . .
Having done so well with the Anglican Communion, Rowan is now trying to guide the UK?
It is the earnings from the ‘offshore centre’ Williams despises which pay for the social programs and spending Williams is so enamoured of.
But perhaps the oyster has some grit in its mouth and that is what is making it spit so intemperately.
Sarah? As always, you are a very naughty person so I’m afraid that you’re going to have to have a time-out.
Don’t make me come over there, young lady. :-)))
Just as long as you don’t say I’m the Meanest Blogger Ever, CJ. [i]That[/i] would really distress me terribly!
Also, I think it would make Greg happy if you so [i]Horribly Insulted[/i] me in that manner. I hope you won’t ally yourself with him. . . . And Matt.
[b]Don’t ally yourself with them by calling me that Dreadful Dreadful Thing![/b]
I was going to suggest that Greg really needs to…actually, I should probably just leave it right there. 🙂