Church leaders wrong, says British PM

The Church of England has accused politicians of being obsessed with Middle England and leaving entire cities 'cast aside'. Photo / AP

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he "profoundly disagrees" with the leaders of the Church of England after they accused the Coalition of creating a country in which the poor are being "left behind".

Cameron pledged to speak "vigorously in defence" of his Government's economic record after the Archbishops of Canterbury and York accused him and Britain's other political leaders of selling a "lie" that economic growth is the answer to social problems.

Speaking in Washington ahead of talks with President Barack Obama, Cameron said that he does not believe "the picture [the archbishops] paint is accurate".

He defended the Church's right to "get involved in political issues" despite their intervention being timed so close to May's general election.

The Prime Minister's attack came after the Church of England accused politicians of being obsessed with Middle England and leaving entire cities "cast aside".

"I've never complained about the church for getting involved in political issues, they have a perfect right to speak out," Cameron said.

"I just happen to think, and I haven't seen this report in all its detail so I will study it, but from an early reading of the Daily Telegraph, I profoundly disagree with some of the things that they are saying.

"Far from leaving cities behind, we're rebalancing the economy and you can see real growth in cities like Birmingham and Manchester and Leeds - indeed some two-thirds over the last year has come from outside London and the South East."

The archbishops said that Britain has been "dominated" by "rampant consumerism and individualism" since the Thatcher era, while the Christian values of solidarity and selflessness have been supplanted by a secular creed of "every person for themselves".

The challenge to politicians and voters alike is contained in a volume of essays to be published next week, edited by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. It includes lengthy contributions from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Telegraph Group Ltd