Archbishop of Canterbury slams Big Society as “aspirational waffle”

June 24, 2012 11:07 am

Rowan Williams has attacked the “Big Society” as:

“aspirational waffle designed to conceal a deeply damaging withdrawal of the state from its responsibilities to the most vulnerable.”

  • AnotherOldBoy

    What a surprise!  His Grace speaks inpenatrably on religion and in left-wing cliches on politics.  I do not suppose he will enjoy his time at Magdalene College, Cambridge.

    • Laurence

      Introverted snobbery from Mark. I like it!

      • Lazoon

        Yep. Although not a member of any elite he was bigging up for them as their cheerleader the other day, only to attack the Archbishop today for being the Master of Magdalene College tomorrow. Kind of funny I have to say.

        • AnotherOldBoy

          I was not attacking the Archbishop for being Master of Magdalene College, but for being unintelligble when he speaks about religion and tediously, predictably left-wing when he shares with us his views on politics.

          Magdalene College, the last college to admit women and notoriously full of public school twits, will not be impressed and so he will not enjoy his time there.

        • AnotherOldBoy

          I was not attacking the Archbishop for being Master of Magdalene College, but for being unintelligble when he speaks about religion and tediously, predictably left-wing when he shares with us his views on politics.

          Magdalene College, the last college to admit women and notoriously full of public school twits, will not be impressed and so he will not enjoy his time there.

          • Brumanuensis

            Tediously and predictably left-wing in what way? As in Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, is tediously, predictably right-wing?

      • Hugh

         He didn’t seem that shy to me.

    • treborc1

       One can change ones view to suit the situation, can one not.

    • PaulHalsall

      Rowan Williams is a highly intelligent man, and does speak very interestingly on religious issues for those who are interested.

      It is a real shame he has not been stronger on the female bishops issue, and has flet obliged to provide cover for homophobic Anglicans in what they call “the Global South”.

  • Daniel Speight

    aspirational waffle

    Now that could sum up the output of half-a-dozen Progress supporters. Thanks Bish.

  • Brumanuensis

    Aside from the Wilson government’s ‘I’m Backing Britain’ campaign in 1968, has there been a bigger damp squip of a political initiative than the Big Society? 

  • Lazoon

    Two years on are there any significant Big Society projects going on anywhere, successfully and making a difference? I invite all and any supporters of Cameron’s Big Society to reply to this comment and list any such projects. 

    • Lazoon

      I’m still waiting…

      • Lazoon

        Where is Bill Lockhart when you need him?

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/QDMFX65KM5STSAFHAC4FOLFTO4 fran

       I think tactically we should go on a charm offensive and talk up the big society – get facts and figures on what’s going on on the ground and disarm the cameroons. Not to withdraw from state responsibilities but because we know it was only ever a bait and switch policy to begin with

  • Lee Matthews

    How can this man slam anything as “waffle”,  he spouts it about god for a living.

  • charles.ward

    A short and spot-on critique from Adrian Moss.

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