Archbishop Welby clarifies Brexit ‘fascist’ remarks

Feb 15, 2017 by

by Aaron James, Premier:

The Archbishop of Canterbury has clarified remarks he made which were perceived by some as comparing Brexit voters to far-right fascists.

In his presidential address at General Synod on Monday, Most Rev Justin Welby said there’d been a rise in “savagely divided” language in public life which could “become worse” after the vote to leave the European Union, the election win of Donald Trump and the rise in popularity of far-right politicians in Europe.

He told members: “We are in a time when the future offers a wider range of opportunity, or of threat, than we have been used to, culturally, politically and economically.

“There are a thousand ways to explain the Brexit vote, or the election of President Trump, or the strength in the polls in Holland of Geert Wilders or in France of Madame Le Pen and many other leaders in a nationalist, populist, or even fascist tradition of politics.”

Some have opposed the remarks, saying it’s wrong to conflate people who voted for Brexit with fascism – a political ideology widely associated with Adolf Hitler.

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