The Most Rev Justin Welby “knew nothing” about the Church of England’s most prolific abuser and has been used as a scapegoat in the scandal, according to John Smyth’s son-in-law.

John Smyth, a barrister who ran Christian summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s, committed physical, psychological and sexual abuse against more than 100 boys and young men.

Mark Stibbe, who was abused by John Smyth QC in the 1980s, called for all senior clergy ‘that did nothing but knew what was going on’ to stand down.