MP attacks Welby’s New Year Message as left wing

The Archbishop of Canterbury (pictured) called on Britons to disarm extremists with love and to welcome refugees in his New Year’s Message.

In the message, broadcast on BBC1 on New Year’s Day, Archbishop Welby urged Christians to offer hospitality to those fleeing persecution.

Recalling a visit to a school in Canterbury that has a number of refugee students, he said: “The hospitality of people here brings love, hope and joy. If we imitate them society becomes a far better place. In today’s world hospitality and love are our most formidable weapons against hatred and extremism.”

The message was criticised by David Davies, the Conservative MP for Monmouth, who wrote on his website that it prioritised a left-wing, liberal agenda over the needs of Christians.

Mr Davies wrote: “How wonderfully saintly it must feel to sleep at night with an easy conscience knowing that you have roundly condemned the wicked politicians and bigots who worry about mass migration without actually having to take difficult decisions yourself and live with the consequences.

“Church leaders seem more comfortable preaching the word of The Guardian than the word of God,” Mr Davies added, accusing the archbishop of ignoring the concerns of his “rapidly diminishing flock”, who were anxious about the “open door” policy backed by the Church.

“Vacuous left-wing sermons condemning a government for upholding border controls are not a difficult message. The archbishop, willing to confront those whose religious values condemn women and gays to being, at best, second-class citizens … would be truly walking in the footsteps of He who turned over the tables of the money changers.” The archbishop declined to comment.