The Archbishop of Canterbury has waded into the Brexit row with a call for Remainers to 'stop whingeing' about the referendum result.

The Most Rev Justin Welby says he is a democrat and has accepted the vote to leave and others should do the same.

Archbishop Welby has previously described himself as a Remainer who has "fully accepted" the way Britain voted in 2016

Speaking at a recent question and answer session, the Church Times reported him saying: “We have to take seriously the fact that the majority voted Leave.

"We may not like it, but that is democracy and that means we have to stop whingeing about it and do something about reuniting the country."

But he has also said that he feared a 'no deal' Brexit could result in more people being "pushed into poverty."

Addressing the recent Greenbelt faith and arts festival, Archbishop Welby said the Church of England could help to facilitate a process of reconciliation between Leave and Remain voters.

The Archbishop was later invited to chair a Citizens’ Forum on Brexit which led to criticism by prominent Conservative Brexiteer Mark Francois that he was joining politicians lecturing voters "about why we should overturn their democratic decision".

But writing on Twitter, the Archbishop denounced the suggestion, saying: "In the past such gatherings have opened the way for careful deliberation.

"I’m open in principle – provided the forum doesn’t aim to stop or delay Brexit and has cross-party support."

It is thought that 100 cross-party voters will be chosen to make up the Citizens' Forum, which is expected to hold its meetings in Coventry Cathedral next month.

Parliament will then be presented with its findings in the run-up to the Brexit deadline on October 31.

But the Archbishop believes the so-called "People's Vote" - the name given to the official campaign for a second referendum - is not the answer.

"Do I know how we move forward?" he said. "No, I don’t, but I’m a democrat, and I’m sticking to it."

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