Pressure mounts on Welby to quit as Starmer says abuse victims were failed badly'

"Sir Keir Starmer has piled further pressure on Justin Welby amid growing calls for him to resign as the Archbishop of Canterbury, saying the victims of a Church of England-linked abuser had been failed very, very badly."

"A petition, started by three members of the General Synod, calling for Justin Welby to quit has received more than 11,500 signatures, reflecting widespread discontent and demands for accountability within the Church of England."

"The independent Makin Review concluded that barrister John Smyth, the most prolific abuser associated with the church, might have been brought to justice had the archbishop formally alerted authorities in 2013."

"Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, speaking at the Cop29 talks, affirmed the horrific nature of the allegations, indicating the urgent need for accountability regarding church leadership."

Read at www.independent.co.uk