The State of Us, published one year on from the violent unrest of last summer, presents an authoritative picture of the state of cohesion and community strength in the UK.
The report, by British Future and the Belong Network, details a combination of social tensions and grievances, including polarisation and division, concerns about asylum and immigration, declining political trust and economic pessimism. The authors warn that unrest risks being reignited unless urgent action is taken. They also identify some strong foundations on which to build, including public confidence in cohesion at neighbourhood level and numerous examples of impactful work across the UK to empower communities, build shared identities and strengthen relationships between people from different backgrounds.
Research for the report incorporated the views of 177 UK organisations working on social cohesion and community development, through regional roundtables, as well as 113 written submissions of evidence. A nationally representative survey by Focaldata and eight focus groups in towns and cities across the UK, including in areas that experienced riots, assessed public opinion.
The research is a foundational input to the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, chaired by Sir Sajid Javid and Jon Cruddas.
"Rupert Lowe looks like creating a new BNP for the online age – a project doomed to fail," writes @sundersays for @easterneye [1/2]
Matt Goodwin's candidacy in Denton & Gorton "illuminates the balance of risks & rewards for Reform, presenting itself as a potential govt, in embracing the sharper edges of the online right." Our @sundersays for @TheNewWorldmag [1/2]
Moving the goalposts on ‘earned settlement’ is a risky gamble for this government – @sundersays writes for @EasternEye [1/2]
"It is important to have an open and frank debate about immigration and integration," writes @sundersays on Jim Ratcliffe's 'colonised' comments. "It helps no-one when public voices use inflammatory language." [1/2]
A new British South Asian Bridgers Project is bringing together and supporting the ‘bridging’ voices who are working to build inter-community connection and defuse tensions among the UK’s largest ethnic minority group. [1/5]
Starmer's future remains uncertain – but "it may be a few months yet before we find out who governs Britain for the remaining three years of this parliament," writes
@sundersays for @easterneye
Changes at Number Ten, but Starmer’s future remains uncertain
Most of the Westminster commentariat predict that Starmer will prove to be a caretaker prime minister on borrowed time
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Remember, you only hav until next Tues, 10 Feb, to apply for the Windrush Day 2026 Grant Scheme - details below
"It is welcome, if overdue, that the PM has set out a positive vision for cohesion... What needs to follow is a clear plan to turn these words into sustained action," writes our @sundersays [1/2]
"No, the public is not irredeemably ignorant," writes @sarahoconnor_ in the @FT – citing data from our @britishfuture immigration attitudes tracker on misperceptions about immigration [1/2]
Our @sundersays welcomes @MayorofLondon Sadiq Khan making "a more confident case for controlled immigration – and the economic and social contribution that it can make," in his @easterneye column [1/2]
