Foodbanks? Check. Benefit sanctions? Check. Boring snoring? Check. On first glance you would have thought Rachel Reeves had written the letter from 27 bishops to the Mirror this morning. It is worth pointing out that the letter itself does not even mention Cameron, Osborne or IDS, let alone directly criticise them, so it is hardly a case of turbulent priests. In fact, it doesn’t even criticise the government all, simply arguing:

“We call on government to do its part: acting to investigate food markets that are failing, to make sure that work pays, and to ensure that the welfare system provides a robust last line of defence against hunger.”

Which is exactly the point. Awkwardly for Labour the bishops’ solution to the nation’s ills are making work pay and reforming the welfare state so it provides only a safety net “last line of defence”. If they keep on like that Guido for one won’t be bashing the bishops…