Marginalised communities are facing a dramatic poverty crisis. These cuts — a political decision echoing Trump’s race to the bottom on aid — are a betrayal that will erode trust and fan the flames of global insecurity

Osai Ojigho, director of public affairs and campaigns at Christian Aid, commenting on the UK Government’s announcement that it would cut aid to 0.3 per cent of GDP, 25 February

Taking money from overseas aid is absolutely the wrong thing to do. I was proud of Starmer’s willingness to stand with Ukraine but increasing defence spending in this way, and for these very dubious reasons, is simply wrong

Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester, X, 25 February

The Church has become so male in its rhetoric, and that incorporates antique attitudes about male privilege. It’s about male insecurity, as simple as that — men wanting to hang on to the power which traditional religion has handed to them

Diarmaid MacCulloch, church historian, interview in The Sunday Telegraph, 23 February

We lack an agreed collective understanding of what social care is for and the principles that ought to underlie its delivery. The National Health Service more or less endures on its founding vision of medical care for all, free at the point of use, regardless of wealth or income. Social care has no such creed

Will Fremont-Brown, policy adviser in C of E’s Faith and Public Life Department, The Times, 22 February

Tightening the law to give police new powers targeting anti-social behaviour & swapping ASBOs for Respect Orders as part of the government’s “Safer Streets mission” may help. But inspiring hope, creating opportunity, offering purpose & tackling poverty really will

Steve Chalke, founder, Oasis Trust, X, 25 February

I deplore colonialism and whitewashing the British Empire. I deplore many of Professor Nigel Biggar’s views. But I also deplore his being “cancelled”. If a university cannot be a “community of contested discourses” (Richard Roberts), then just what is “the idea of a university”?

Alastair McIntosh, Quaker writer and activist, X, 25 February

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