Making a response to the White Paper, entitled 'Making Governance Work for the Poor', the Bishop of Chelmsford Bishop Gladwin addressed the House of Lords saying that poverty demands a "profound change in the culture and the structures of power in the world".
Governance was at the core of tackling the problem, he said, and especially injustices had to be addressed in order that societies could start to deal with their escalating problems.
Bishop Gladwin said, "Poverty feeds corruption and corruption feeds poverty. That cycle is rooted in injustice."
The bishop linked the issue to that of global warming, saying, "Global warming is an increasingly big issue and raises for us big questions about our common responsibility."
He continued saying, "We must work with the grain of civil society if we are to succeed in this matter. On the basis of the White Paper, I suspect that we need a fresh discussion with the government on the partnership between civil society agencies, including faith communities, on how we unlock the vibrancy of those communities with which we are seeking to work.
"If I can in any way help with that, as chair of Christian Aid, I would be delighted to do so."
