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The coalition is committing Britain to "radical, long- term policies" that no-one voted for, the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned.
In an article for the New Statesmanmagazine, Dr Rowan Williams addressed concerns about the coalition's health, education and welfare reforms.
He discussed the nation's "bafflement and indignation" due to a lack of "proper public argument".
The archbishop described the coalition's flagship Big Society idea as a "painfully stale" slogan, viewed with "widespread suspicion".
Guest editor of this week's magazine, Dr Williams said health and education reforms in particular were being introduced at a "remarkable speed".
"With remarkable speed, we are being committed to radical, long-term policies for which no-one voted," he writes.
"At the very least, there is an understandable anxiety about what democracy means in such a context.
"Government badly needs to hear just how much plain fear there is around such questions at present."
Dr Williams also criticised the government for continually using the deficit it inherited from Labour as an excuse for the country's difficulties.
He added: "It isn't enough to respond with what sounds like a mixture of 'This is the last government's legacy' and 'We'd like to do more, but just wait until the economy recovers a bit'."
Downing Street dismissed the Archbishop’s criticism of the Big Society as "a cover for cuts".
A Downing Street spokesman said: "This government was elected to tackle the UK's deep-rooted problems.
"Its clear policies on education, welfare, health and the economy are necessary to ensure we’re on the right track."
Business secretary Vince Cable rejected the claims that government policies had not been subjected to proper scrutiny, pointing to the "vigorous debate" over its health reforms.
He said: "I welcome his contribution to the debate but his comments are a little odd."
Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, former prime minister Tony Blair said senior clergy men attacking government policy was nothing new.
He said: "I seem to remember, going back to when I started in Parliament in 1983, that bishops attacking government is a pretty recurrent headline.
"He is entitled to speak his mind. I remember people used to criticise our policies, not just on foreign policy and Iraq but on domestic policy and reform as well.
"It is just part of the way things work. I should imagine the government will say they are relaxed about it, and just get on with the things they want to do."
Chris Keates, general secretary of the teaching union NASUWT, said the archbishop is right to draw attention to the impact of the government policies that are "being pushed through without any mandate".
He said: "The prime minister has been forced to offer his personal assurance that he will protect the health service from his own government. The time is also right for him to give a similar assurance to the country’s children and young people.
"If it is not acceptable to sell off the nation's health care to privateers and profiteers then it is also not acceptable to sell off children's education."
Article Comments
The Archbishop of Canterbury is simply adding his voice to the many that believe the route this coalition government is going down is wrong.It is indeed with 'widespread suspicion' that David Camerom's Big Society is viewed.
You cannot dismantle public sector provision and glibly talk of replacing many important services such as our libraries with some sort of ad hoc volunteer scheme. It shows what scant knowledge the government has of the importance of our public services and the huge difference they make to peoples lives.
Christine Blower, general secretary, National Union of Teachers
9th Jun 2011 at 5:56 pm
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