Archbishop of Canterbury agrees to chair 'Citizens' Forum' on Brexit
2 min read
The Archbishop of Canterbury has agreed to chair a 'Citizens' Forum' aimed at plotting a way out of the Brexit crisis.
Justin Welby said it was "an unexpected privilege" to be asked by senior MPs to oversee the discussions incolving a cross-section of people from across the country.
However, he insisted it must not be used as a vehicle to "stop or delay Brexit".
Senior MPs, including the chairs of some Commons committees, wrote to the Archbishop on Tuesday telling him "there is an urgent need to bring the country together and promote thoughtful deliberation on Brexit and the way ahead".
It is thought that 100 voters will be chosen to make up the Citizens' Forum, which is expected to hold its meetings in Coventry Cathedral next month.
Parliament will then be presented with its findings in the run-up to the Brexit deadline on 31 October.
Responding to the MPs' letter, Archbishop Welby said: "It’s an unexpected privilege to be asked to chair the proposed Citizens’ Forum on Brexit.
"In the past such gatherings have opened the way for careful deliberation. I’m open in principle – provided the Forum doesn’t aim to stop or delay Brexit, and has cross-party support."
The move came as opposition parties stepped up their attempts to stop a no-deal Brexit.
Senior figures from Labour, the SNP, Lib Dems, Greens, Plaid Cymru, as well as independent MPs, met in Church House in Westminster to pledge to do all they could to stop Boris Johnson suspending Parliament in order to ensure the UK leaves on Hallowe'en.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who was representing Labour, warned the Prime Minister his party “will not stand aside and let that happen”.
He said: “I give this warning to Boris Johnson; Prime Ministers come and Prime Ministers go.
“But actually I don’t think we’ve ever seen a Prime Minister like this who has the potential to threaten the very nature of our democracy.
“I just warn him that we will not stand aside and let that happen, and exactly as the declaration says we’ll use whatever mechanism necessary to prevent that happening.”
His comments came after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn convened a meeting of opposition leaders this morning to agree on a strategy to stop a no-deal Brexit.
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