Justin Welby’s tone-deaf goodbye shows where his heart lies

At least Justin Welby’s valedictory speech went down well in the House of Lords. Speeches from those in the Upper Chamber yesterday praised Welby’s personal qualities and spiritual counsel and his work pushing for social change. There was even a fleeting mention of one of his books. But outside the chamber many of those watching the Archbishop, while he said his farewell words to the House following his resignation last month over the Church of England’s handling of one of its worst-ever abuse scandals, were horrified.

‘Whether one is personally responsible or not’ the time had come for a head to roll, he said. ‘There is only, in this case, one head that rolls well enough’. In a macabre move, Welby then mentioned the fate of Simon of Sudbury, a former incumbent of his role, who had his head cut off during the peasants’ revolt; as Lord Chancellor, Sudbury had been key in enacting the third poll tax that triggered the revolt.