Leading English prelate rips welfare cuts

February 17, 2014

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster has strongly criticized the changes to welfare benefits that have taken place under the government of Prime Minister David Cameron.

“People do understand that we do need to tighten our belts and be much more responsible and careful in public expenditure,” Archbishop Nichols told The Telegraph.

“But … the basic safety net that was there to guarantee that people would not be left in hunger or in destitution has actually been torn apart,” he said. “It no longer exists and that is a real, real dramatic crisis.”

Archbishop Nichols also charged that the administration of social assistance “has become more and more punitive … For a country of our affluence, that quite frankly is a disgrace.”

 

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Further information:

• New Cardinal Vincent Nichols: welfare cuts ‘frankly a disgrace’ (The Telegraph)