Cross-Party Commission to Address UK Community Cohesion Post-Riots
A new commission, led by former cabinet ministers Sajid Javid and John Denham, will engage the public to address the challenges of community cohesion in the aftermath of recent riots.
A new cross-party commission, chaired by former Tory and Labour community secretaries Sajid Javid and John Denham, is set to launch in the spring with the goal of improving community cohesion across the UK following the Southport tragedy and recent riots.
The initiative, which is facilitated by the Together Coalition, will aim to engage millions of people to generate ideas for rebuilding connections within communities and addressing divisive issues.
The commission will be independent of government sponsorship, but it has garnered interest from both No 10 and the opposition leader’s office.
Its primary objective is to involve the public in shaping a vision for how communities can live together harmoniously in modern Britain.
The Together Coalition, founded by Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, highlights the urgent need for a uniting vision in a country facing growing division.
Sunder Katwala, director of the thinktank British Future, emphasized the importance of this initiative, especially after the riots, which exposed a deep racial and social divide.
The commission will focus on identifying the sources of division and unity within the UK and explore actionable solutions for fostering cohesion.
The commission’s creation follows previous efforts to improve social integration and cohesion, including the work of Dame Louise Casey, who published a review in 2016. Casey’s report criticized the lack of progress in ensuring social integration amidst rapid immigration and warned of growing divisions in local communities.
Javid and Denham’s leadership aims to provide a long-term approach to social cohesion.
Denham, who served as communities secretary from 2009 to 2010, has argued that true cohesion is not merely the absence of riots, but ensuring that everyone feels they have an equal stake in society.
Javid, former communities secretary, had previously advocated for stronger community values and integration strategies.
The commission is expected to address key questions on how the UK can strengthen its communities and promote dialogue amidst diversity, with an eye on the challenges faced by modern Britain.
The initiative, which is facilitated by the Together Coalition, will aim to engage millions of people to generate ideas for rebuilding connections within communities and addressing divisive issues.
The commission will be independent of government sponsorship, but it has garnered interest from both No 10 and the opposition leader’s office.
Its primary objective is to involve the public in shaping a vision for how communities can live together harmoniously in modern Britain.
The Together Coalition, founded by Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, highlights the urgent need for a uniting vision in a country facing growing division.
Sunder Katwala, director of the thinktank British Future, emphasized the importance of this initiative, especially after the riots, which exposed a deep racial and social divide.
The commission will focus on identifying the sources of division and unity within the UK and explore actionable solutions for fostering cohesion.
The commission’s creation follows previous efforts to improve social integration and cohesion, including the work of Dame Louise Casey, who published a review in 2016. Casey’s report criticized the lack of progress in ensuring social integration amidst rapid immigration and warned of growing divisions in local communities.
Javid and Denham’s leadership aims to provide a long-term approach to social cohesion.
Denham, who served as communities secretary from 2009 to 2010, has argued that true cohesion is not merely the absence of riots, but ensuring that everyone feels they have an equal stake in society.
Javid, former communities secretary, had previously advocated for stronger community values and integration strategies.
The commission is expected to address key questions on how the UK can strengthen its communities and promote dialogue amidst diversity, with an eye on the challenges faced by modern Britain.
