An independent commission aimed at tackling community divisions across Britain in the aftermath of last summer's riots will hold its first meeting on Wednesday. The cross-party body, led by former Tory home secretary Sir Sajid Javid and Labour MP Jon Cruddas, says it will examine what Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last year called the "cracks in our foundation" and has support from across the political spectrum. It aims to develop "evidence-based" recommendations for a stronger, more connected sense of community across the UK. Sir Sajid said ministers have only responded to challenges to community cohesion "when tensions spill over, and too often ignoring the root causes". Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, ex-Tory mayor of the West Midlands Sir Andy Street, and former counter-extremism tsar Dame Sara Khan are also among its members. TheIndependent Commission on Community and Cohesionwas announced after the summer riots last year which hit parts of the country last year following the Southport stabbings. False information spread on social media about the identity of the attacker, later found to be 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana, was widely seen as playing a role in fuelling the unrest. The disturbances, which saw mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers targeted, were denounced at the time as "far-right thuggery" by Sir Keir. In recent weeks, there has alsobeen unrest in parts of Northern Ireland, where police have said some of it has been racially motivated. The commission said a UK-wide "national conversation" will be launched this autumn, to hear directly from people across the country about how they experience connection and belonging and what they want to see change. The panel will have representation from all four nations of the UK and people from different faiths and professions. It is being facilitated by the Together Coalition founded by Brendan Cox, the husband of the Labour MP Jo Cox who wasmurdered by a far-right extremist. Although not officially government-sponsored, the commission is being supported by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. A spokesperson for the department said: "We are supportive of the work that the Together Coalition is undertaking, and we look forward to following the commission's progress".
Taskforce launched to tackle root causes of UK riots
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"New Independent Commission Formed to Address Community Divisions in the UK"
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TruthLens AI Summary
An independent commission has been established to address community divisions in the UK following the riots that occurred last summer. The commission, known as the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, is led by former Conservative Home Secretary Sir Sajid Javid and Labour MP Jon Cruddas. It aims to delve into the underlying issues that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer referred to as the "cracks in our foundation." The commission has garnered support from various political factions and is committed to developing evidence-based recommendations to foster a stronger sense of community across Britain. Sir Sajid emphasized that government responses to community cohesion challenges often arise only after tensions escalate, suggesting a need for proactive measures that address root causes. The commission's membership includes notable figures such as former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas and ex-Tory mayor of the West Midlands Sir Andy Street, among others.
The establishment of this commission follows significant unrest that erupted across the UK, particularly after the Southport stabbings, where misinformation spread via social media contributed to public disorder. The riots led to targeted attacks on mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers, which were condemned by Sir Keir as instances of "far-right thuggery." Additionally, recent unrest in Northern Ireland has raised concerns about racially motivated violence. In response, the commission plans to launch a national conversation this autumn, inviting citizens from all backgrounds to share their experiences of connection and belonging and to discuss desired changes. The panel will include representatives from all four UK nations and various faiths and professions, facilitated by the Together Coalition, which aims to promote social cohesion. Although it operates independently, the commission has the backing of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, reflecting a governmental interest in addressing these pressing community issues.
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