THERE were mixed feelings in the North-East when Justin Welby was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.

We were happy that the Bishop of Durham had been chosen for such a leading role in the country, but disappointed that his time in our region had been so fleeting.

At the time of his departure, we called for more of the same: a successor who would continue where Bishop Welby had left off – who would not be afraid to speak out on important social issues.

Days before his enthronement as Bishop of Durham this weekend, the Right Reverend Paul Butler is making the kind of headlines that Justin Welby attracted.

He has voiced his concerns about the Government’s welfare reforms, saying they are forcing people into food and fuel poverty.

The growth in the number of food banks in the country, not least here in the North-East, is a serious concern.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has defended the coalition, accusing church leaders of exaggerating the impact of the changes.

At a time of historic public sector spending cuts, the welfare budget could not escape unscathed and we support efforts to crackdown on benefit cheats and scroungers.

But that does not mean the safety net should be removed for those in genuine need. In a relatively rich country, there should not be an increased reliance on food banks.

The new Bishop of Durham is right to add his voice to the protests.