THE Archbishop of Canterbury and the Prime Minister met in 10 Downing Street on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for No. 10 said that the pair had “discussed the importance of social cohesion, inter-faith relationships and celebrating the UK’s diverse communities in the face of division, including rising antisemitism and anti-Muslim hostility”.
The spokesperson continued: “They also discussed world events, including the war in Iran, and its impacts on communities here. They reflected on the millions of individuals around the UK whose selfless acts of service build up the nation.”
Sir Keir Starmer had hosted an “Easter reception” on the Monday of Holy Week, at which he described Archbishop Mullally’s installation in Canterbury Cathedral as “a fantastic celebration of the diversity of the Christian Church” (News, 25 March).
The first explicitly atheist British Prime Minister, he said that he and the Archbishop had discussed “how important it is that we talk to each other and we have a proper partnership”.
He continued: “Government and faith should not be two separate things operating in separate spheres. Many of the values we hold are the same, and therefore we should be trying to work in partnership wherever we can.”
Archbishop Mullally has spoken in recent weeks of the need to tackle anti-Semitism (News, 14 May); and, in the House of Lords debate on the King’s Speech, she also said that identity in the UK had been “misused to intimidate and divide” (News, 19 May). She called for “a renewal of hope”, “a rejection of hatred and division, and a turning towards one another”.
This was two days after 60,000 people attended the “Unite the Kingdom” rally, organised in London by the far-Right activist Tommy Robinson (News, 18 May).
“As human beings, we are naturally drawn to those who resemble us or reinforce our views, particularly in times of adversity or perceived scarcity,” the Archbishop said. “Yet such instincts do not lead to a flourishing society.
“The Church of England has long held that the right of all people to practise their faith without fear must be protected. We have also seen religious identity misused to intimidate and divide.
“Let us be clear: to follow Jesus Christ is to love your neighbour as yourself, to love without exception, and to seek the flourishing of all.”