THE new Archbishop of York has condemned Britain's "blame someone else" culture during a hard-hitting speech.

Dr John Sentamu, the country's first black Archbishop, urged people to take the responsibility to care for others, but said unfortunately "pointing the finger" of blame was easier.

He was addressing the launch of a new Faiths Forum for Yorkshire in Leeds, which has brought together nine different religions to give them a bigger voice in shaping policies on the big issues.

"Faith actually stops people from always wanting to blame somebody else," Dr Sentamu said.

"Britain has become a BSE society - Blame Someone Else. People of faith have a duty to their neighbours, the environment and caring for the young.

"Also, faith creates a sense of belonging and all of us want to belong somewhere."

The speech echoed much of what he said during his recent colourful inauguration ceremony at York Minster.

Ugandan-born Dr Sentamu said Yorkshire had a centuries-old tradition of creating caring Christian communities that turned enemies into friends and neighbours.

He praised Britain's liberal democracy, its Christian tradition and the belief in equality, justice and respect. But he admitted feeling "exasperated" that some chose not to exercise their right to vote.

"I had never voted in my life until I came to this country," he said.

"I get exasperated when people don't turn up to vote. It is their only chance to register their approval or disapproval of our leaders."

He said the ballot box was the only way to defeat parties like the British National Party (BNP).

"In the end, the BNP is only going to be defeated at the ballot box, not by banning them. I will encourage everybody to exercise their democratic right to vote," he said.

The Evening Press previously reported that the BNP had launched a campaign to win a place on City of York Council at the next elections.

It plans to stand in York in the local government elections in 18 months' time.

The news comes after the party renewed a leafleting campaign in the city, targeting homes in the Haxby Road area. Dozens of households received leaflets blaming the July 7 terror attacks on the mainstream parties, and condemning multiculturalism.

The leaflet claims: "The old parties worked together to turn our once all-white country into an overcrowded multicultural slum."

Updated: 10:26 Friday, December 09, 2005