Bishop of Dudley: 'Benefits are getting worse'

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has warned changes to the benefit system could drive children and families into poverty.

His comments backed an open letter from bishops criticising plans to limit rises in working-age benefits and some tax credits to 1% for three years.

Whitehall sources have expressed "surprise" at Archbishop Welby's public criticism of the government's plans, saying he did not raise his concerns when he met Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith on Tuesday.

The Bishop of Dudley, the Right Reverend David Walker, explained why he is one of the 43 signatories to the letter in the Sunday Telegraph.