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.
'It's a posh word for racist, basically.'
With ethnonationalism on the rise in British politics, @Sundersays gives @IainDale an unfiltered explanation on what it means.
WE'RE RECRUITING: Senior Researcher on race equity Salary £42k, London.
Applications close Mon 2 November.
More details: https://www.britishfuture.org/jobs/senior-researcher-on-race-equity/
TODAY 10am at Labour Party Conference:
'Can Labour get immigration right?' (10am, ACC Arena) with @oliviabaileymp; @EmilyAGraham2; @sundersays @Holly_JoyB
'A Decade After the Brexit Vote: How Close Should the UK Get to Europe Now?' Today 1pm at Labour Conference with @AnnelieseDodds @RSylvester1 @sundersays and Andrew Lewin MP
https://www.britishfuture.org/event/british-future-at-party-conferences-2026/
Today 11.30am at Labour Conference 'What Do Ethnic Minorities Want from Labour on Race?' with
@AJogee @rokhsanafiaz @JOwusuNepaul @sundersays
and Kudsia Batool, TUC Director of Equalities.
(FGF pod, Arena Room, ACC downstairs)
This morning 9.30 at Labour Conference:
'Bridging Divides: Why Generations Matter' With @pauldaviesmp.bsky.social @sundersays.bsky.social
Olivia Field, @jocoxfoundation.bsky.social
Emily Abbott, Intergenerational England
Shelley Hathaway-Batt, Clarion Futures
'Can Labour get immigration right?' Join us at Labour Party Conference to discuss on Tues 29th (10am, ACC) with @oliviabaileymp; @EmilyAGraham2; @sundersays @_katedevlin + others TBC.
https://www.britishfuture.org/event/british-future-at-party-conferences-2026/
'A Decade After the Brexit Vote: How Close Should the UK Get to Europe Now?' Join us for this Labour Conference fringe panel Mon 28th 1pm with @AnnelieseDodds; @RSylvester1; Andrew Lewin MP; and our @sundersays
Join us Mon 28th 11.30am at Labour Conference for 'What Do Ethnic Minorities Want from Labour on Race?' with @AJogee; @rokhsanafiaz; @JOwusuNepaul; @sundersays and Kudsia Batool, TUC Director of Equalities.
(FGF pod, Arena Room, ACC downstairs)
It finds that people of all backgrounds agree progress has stalled on racial equality and may even be going backwards. Nearly half of white respondents (48%) and ethnic minority respondents (44%) feel racial equality is getting worse rather than better.
