Tories attack on inner cities report 'irresponsible'

by Cristina Odone ARCHBISHOP Derek Worlock of Liverpool has vehemently rejected criticisms of the Church report on the inner cities, which earlier this week was described by a Cabinet minister as "Marxist". "The report", said the Archbishop, "places focus on a number of important factors in present inner city problems and offers some suggested solutions. It calls for careful consideration and conscientious debate on issues of' major concern for the future of the nation. Its request for such consideration cannot be swept under the parliamentary carpet."
Entitled Faith in the City, the Church report was compiled by a commission set up by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie. It has been described as one of the most comprehensive studies yet written on economic and social conditions in modern times.
The Archbishop's 17-member committee, which includes Robina Rafferty, of the Catholic }lousing Aid Society, attacks as "dogmatic and inflexible" the Government's economic policies, and calls them "unacceptable in their effect on whole communities and generations". The commission stated that the inner city crisis "is evidence of inequality and polarisation in society." The Government for its part, has attempted to discredit the report: Norman Tebbit, Conservative party chairman, in a speech to the "Businessman of the Year" lunch earlier this week, came out strongly against the report and its authors, who he described as "vicarious Samaritans" guilty of "unbalanced criticism".
Archbishop Worlock branded the Government's attacks on the report as "irresponsible": the attempt to "rubbish' the report undigested, perhaps only partially read, and in advance of its embargoed release date for publication has been . . . a breach of political and journalistic honour."
Coming out in defence of the Archbishop of Canterbury's report were both the Labour Party Leader, Neil Kinnock, and the Liberal Party Leader, David Steel. At a press conference on Monday, Mr Steel condemned the behaviour of the government "over the Church of England Report . . . as disgraceful. Instead of reflecting soberlyupon its contents they have leaked, misrepresented and attacked the Report before it has even seen the light of day."
The report, produced after two years' study of urban areas in Britain, makes 61 recommendations, 38 to the Church and 23 to the nation.
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