Welby: Gap between Britain's rich and poor 'widening'

The gap between rich and poor in Britain is "significant" and "widening", the Archbishop of Canterbury has told ITV News.

Speaking to Business Editor Joel Hills, Most Rev Justin Welby said the gap between the south-east and the rest of the UK made London feel "like a slightly different country".

He questioned whether improving growth would be spread "equally across the whole country", adding that over the last 30 to 40 years, the economy "has shrunk faster" and "grown less quickly" away from the capital.

The Archbishop added, however, that "both in London and elsewhere there have been significant pressures on people on lower incomes".

Watch Joel Hills' ITV Lunchtime News package on the interview:

He also said he agreed with the Archbishop of York's recent comments that most businesses can afford to pay the Living Wage and should "just get on with it"

"It can be done, and it should be done. It is not two holidays in Bermuda every year." Welby said of the Living Wage - which stands at £9.15 an hour in London and £7.85 outside the capital.

The Archbishop's comments come as an Oxfam report claims the world's richest 1% is set to overtake the other 99% in terms of wealth by next year.

Read: Jobs growth in south outstrips the rest of the country