Starmer conference speech should set out plan to tackle roots of riots

Keir Starmer should use this month’s party conference for a ‘state of the nation’ address that sets out how his government will respond to this summer’s riots and rebuild community cohesion, a group of leading experts have said in a new publication.

A new paper ‘After the riots,’ published on 10 September 2024 by thinktank British Future, Belong and the Together Coalition, sets out a 12-point plan of policy proposals to address what it calls a “vacuum on communities policy”.

Trying to move on from the violent disorder without addressing its causes or putting in place the foundations to address them, the publication says, could “risk recurring episodes of the kind of disturbances we have seen, and increased polarisation and social conflict in future.”

Instead, “Central government needs to provide leadership and a policy strategy, empowering local stakeholders to take action,” the authors say – which will require a national social cohesion strategy with funding to implement it, supporting and empowering local strategies from councils.

David Barclay, co-founder of Good Faith Partnership and campaign director of Warm Welcome UK, said: “This is a really important report, following this summer’s riots. It’s hugely encouraging to see mentions in the report of Welcome Hubs and asylum accommodation reform, both initiatives championed by us here at Good Faith.”

British Future is an independent, non-partisan thinktank and registered charity, engaging people’s hopes and fears about integration and migration, identity and race, so that we share a confident and welcoming Britain, inclusive and fair to all.  

For more information and an embargoed copy of the After the riots paper, please contact:

Steve Ballinger, Director of Communications, British Future, 07891 565592.