Bishops sign open letter criticising welfare reforms

Eighteen Church of England bishops have signed an open letter, criticising the government's proposed welfare reforms.

In the letter, in The Observer, the bishops express concerns about plans to limit the amount any household can claim in benefits to £500 a week.

Their intervention has received the backing of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York.
The government says the reforms are designed to reduce a culture of benefit dependency.   Full Read