Social Cohesion and Community during Periods of Change

Lord Khan of Burnley Excerpts

Friday 6th December 2024 Lords Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Lord Khan of Burnley) (Lab)]

My Lords, first, I thank the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of York for tabling this Motion. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to stand before your Lordships today to address a topic critical to our shared future: the need for social cohesion and strong, supportive communities in an era defined by rapid change and global uncertainty. I also thank the noble Lord, Lord Sharma, for his work and dedication shown to tackling climate change, especially during his time as president of COP 26, and for making such an eloquent maiden speech.

In times of change and uncertainty—political, economic or global—it is easy to feel overwhelmed. The challenges we face can seem insurmountable, but history teaches us a powerful lesson: communities that stand together emerge stronger. Our society is woven together by thousands of local communities—communities where people look out for each other. Neighbours might not speak every day, but they notice if something is wrong, they check in on each other and they work to make things better. From grass-roots community groups to parish and town councils, people come together to improve their towns and cities, supporting one another and tackling local issues head on.

In uncertain times, it is cohesion across these communities that enables us to navigate disruption with confidence. Social cohesion can provide stability when the world feels unstable. Whether responding to a crisis such as a natural disaster or navigating long-term challenges such as economic shifts, the ability to collaborate and trust one another is the foundation for progress.

In recent years, we have really seen this truth play out. During the Covid-19 pandemic, communities came together to support the vulnerable, adapt to new realities and care for one another. People volunteered, shared resources and built networks of support that transcended differences. Places of worship transformed into vaccination centres, providing vital support services. They opened their doors to serve their communities, ensuring that vaccinations were accessible to everyone, including the most vulnerable. The work during the pandemic was mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Bird, and the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of London. I thank the noble Lord for providing such an optimistic view of the pandemic. These acts of solidarity proved that even in crisis our collective strength can overcome great challenges.

The violent disorder that followed the tragic incidents in Southport this summer showed just how fractured our social fabric can become when the flames of discord and hate are fanned. Yet there was an extraordinary response of unity and solidarity across the country. Faith leaders, local organisations and residents came together to host dialogues and provide support to those affected.

When I visited Southport, after the Prime Minister and Home Secretary, soon after the tragic events it suffered, I heard incredible stories of resilience and courage: stories of those people who came out the morning after the unrest, working as one to rebuild the walls of the mosque, clear up the damage on their streets and put their community back together—a point made by noble Lords across the House. Their efforts reminded us that even in the face of fear and anger, the power of community can prevail.

This has been a wide-ranging debate and there are many issues related to social cohesion, periods of change and global uncertainty that I could cover. I will address some of the specific issues raised today, first, by the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of York. I was pleased to hear of the launch of the new inquiry into community cohesion by our esteemed colleagues on the Women and Equalities Committee. The questions they have posed will help build our shared understanding of social cohesion and related issues. I look forward to hearing more about their work.

The most reverend Primate and the noble Baroness, Lady Bottomley, spoke very clearly about the issue of social media. The Online Safety Act 2023 is a new set of laws to protect children and adults online. The Act will give providers new duties to implement systems and processes to reduce the risk of their services being used for illegal activity and to take down illegal content when it appears. The strongest protections in the Act have been designed for children and will make the UK the safest place in the world to be a child online.

On the pertinent point about misinformation and disinformation, it is unacceptable that people are using social media to cause damage, distress and destruction in our communities. We will pursue criminal behaviour online just as we do offline. Where people can be identified, we will take action and ensure that those who incite hate online face the consequences. The Government have been proactively referring content which breaches terms of service to social media companies for them to assess and take action. The Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary has met social media platforms to make clear their responsibility in tackling the spread of hate online. The Prime Minister has said that the Government will look more broadly at the role of social media following the disturbances.

The noble Baroness, Lady Bottomley, and others mentioned Dame Sara Khan’s independent review into social cohesion and resilience, which made a range of recommendations to build cohesion and strengthen democratic resilience in the UK, including the concept of freedom-restricting harassment. This Government are always keen to see constructive proposals to address the threats we face and bring our communities together, so we are looking at that review.

The most reverend Primate also talked about poverty. Clearly, many communities are struggling with the effects of deprivation and poor economic growth, exacerbated by the increased cost of living, as mentioned across the House. If left unchecked, such conditions can increase vulnerability. There is evidence that deprivation, poor housing, low civil participation and poor community cohesion leave communities more at risk of extremist narratives, disinformation and conspiracy theories. For instance, seven of the 10 most deprived areas of England witnessed disorder over the summer. Middlesbrough, Blackpool, Liverpool, Hartlepool, Hull, Manchester and Blackburn all experienced violent disorder and are ranked in the top 10 most deprived local authorities in England. My department is undertaking work to understand how social and economic factors play a role in harming social cohesion and is developing a more strategic approach to supporting communities and societal resilience more broadly.

We need to eradicate child poverty. This is something that we have to work on. There is no silver bullet here, but the answers lie in tackling pay, benefits, work, housing, education and health. This is not just about policy; it is about priority. The noble Baroness, Lady Wheatcroft, made an important point about young, white, working-class males. We are determined to ensure that no one is left behind. Every young person must have the opportunity to fulfil their aspirations and play a part in our society. Our work in the opportunity mission aims to break the link between background and success to ensure that all children are able to reach their potential and thrive, including white, working-class boys—one of the lowest attaining groups in our schools. The mission will also tackle the national challenge of school absence, including by bolstering young people’s sense of belonging.

The Government were elected on a manifesto that stressed a partnership approach with local authorities. Together with local leaders, we will develop ambitious, long-term local growth plans and capitalise on existing strengths to deliver new opportunities and maximise potential. This is why 75 towns in the UK that were originally selected will receive a package of up to £20 million funding and support: a point raised by the noble Earl, Lord Effingham. Information on the new programme, including a revised prospectus and technical guidance, will be published in due course. These documents will set out the strategic objectives for the programme and how they will enable communities to deliver work in their areas to deliver the Government’s missions.

The most reverend Primate the Archbishop of York also talked about devolution. The Government are committed to transferring power out of Westminster into local communities, with landmark legislation to expand devolution across England and devolve further powers to local leaders with local knowledge and skin in the game to drive economic growth and empower communities. This legislation will be coming soon. This cannot all happen overnight, but change starts now. Our ambition is for a new, stronger partnership between central and local government, recognising that each area has different strengths and that local representatives know them best.

The right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Lichfield, the noble Lord, Lord Leigh, and the noble Baroness, Lady Bottomley, talked about faith engagement and faith leaders. The Government celebrate the central role of faith in our national life. Faith inspires a great number of people to public service and provides help to those in need. This Government are committed to harnessing the power of faith for national renewal, helping us to make progress against our missions and to improve social cohesion and resilience. My ministerial colleagues and I have been meeting a wide range of faith and belief leaders and representatives and interfaith practitioners, and have been heartened to hear about the important work they undertake to foster good relations in our communities. Let me be clear. In a few weeks, I will as a Minister have visited and engaged with all faiths across the country, not just the major faiths. I think that is important. One of my first engagements was at the Board of Deputies, where I talked to Muslim and Jewish leaders about how they can build better relationships.

My department was pleased to support the recent running of Inter Faith Week, and we still fund a number of partners delivering excellent cohesion programmes in local communities, which we know contribute to positive interfaith relations. I have heard calls about the importance of faith literacy in government and our public services, which I will consider carefully as part of my wider work as Minister for Faith.

The noble Lord, Lord Leigh, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Lichfield and the noble Baroness, Lady Helic, talked about hate crime, and it is shocking that recent Home Office statistics show that 71% of all religious hate crime constitutes anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. We will be tackling this problem, and we will soon announce our approach to dealing with Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. I also assure the House that the Government are not focusing on combating anti-Semitism and Islamophobia at the expense of hate crimes against those of other faiths. We are clear that all forms of racial and religious discrimination are completely unacceptable. Our focus is on building a strong culture of cohesion where diversity is celebrated.

I know that global events pose challenges to our communities in the UK. Prejudices and fear no longer remain confined to distant conflicts. They cross borders and directly impact our communities, as pointed out by the noble Lords, Lord Cashman and Lord Leigh of Hurley. I add my solidarity to the Jewish community in Melbourne who have suffered an atrocious attack in the synagogue.

The 7 October attacks, along with the ongoing war in Gaza and developments in Lebanon, have a profound effect on communities here in the UK. More than a year on, divisions still exist. Communities are feeling traumatised, isolated and less safe, while some individuals and groups seek to perpetuate further discord. However, I have been heartened by the efforts of individuals and communities to preserve vital local relationships, and our work with Muslim and Jewish communities to strengthen unity and ensure that everyone feels safe is ongoing. The Government are developing an integrated, cohesive approach to tackling these challenges, which will address racial and religious hatred and strengthen cohesion across all communities—more will be announced soon.

The Government strongly condemn the thuggery and racist rhetoric seen during the violent disorder in the summer. It has no place on our streets or online. The noble Baroness, Lady Porter of Fulwood, asked what more we will be doing. My department is leading a cross-government effort to support the recovery of the towns and cities affected and to develop a long-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion, working in partnership with communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address the deep-seated issues. We have launched a £15 million community recovery fund to support 20 areas that have been affected. This support package will be distributed to local leaders, allowing them to partner with local communities to direct the funding to the areas most in need and how they see fit to best support their communities’ recovery. That is just a start.

The noble Lords, Lord Sharma and Lord Willetts, alluded to climate change. Tackling the climate crisis is essential for our economic growth and our efforts to protect current and future generations. In November we announced new climate goals at COP 29, including reducing emissions by 81% by 2035, and the Prime Minister has called on other countries to bring forward ambitious targets. Of course, the Government are always mindful of the impact that wider global change and uncertainty, including climate change, can have on migration, while always ensuring that our immigration system is controlled and managed effectively.

The noble Baroness, Lady Fraser of Craigmaddie, talked about emergency preparedness—I will write to her on that statistic about websites. The Government are aware of the changing risk landscape over the coming years. MHCLG will look to go further in strengthening local resilience forums, following the recommendation of the 2021 independent review of national security risk assessment, which informed local resilience forums’ risk assessment. Those forums now have more dynamic risk information and a new analysis of chronic risks, including climate change, to inform long-term thinking.

The noble Lords, Lord Lilley and Lord Cashman, the noble Baroness, Lady Helic, and my noble friend Lord Griffiths talked about immigration. The UK has had a long, proud history of welcoming people from other countries. The country will always need migration. Our new Plan for Change document sets out how we will deal with legal and illegal migration.

On immigration specifically, the Prime Minister has been very clear that he believes there are legitimate concerns about immigration. Net migration is too high. The Government are determined to bring down historically high levels of legal migration and tackle the root causes behind it. By creating a fair and properly managed system, we will reduce net migration back down to sustainable levels.

On asylum, the Home Office has a legal obligation to support asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute, by providing appropriate support which usually includes accommodation. We engage with local authorities and key stakeholders as part of the process throughout the United Kingdom. We continue to identify a range of options to reduce the use of hotels, and it remains the Government’s ambition to end their use to ensure better use of public money.

On the point on education made by the noble Lords, Lord Mann and Lord Loomba, our schools, colleges and universities provide a critical opportunity for people to learn and interact with those from different backgrounds, culturally, religiously and economically. These interactions can influence the cohesion dynamics of communities around schools, while shaping the worldview of emerging generations of students.

The noble Lord, Leigh, talked about extremism. The Home Secretary commissioned a rapid review—or “sprint”—in July, to establish a new approach to counter extremism, and the Home Office will be taking that work forward.

On housing, the Government are committed to kick-starting economic growth and getting Britain building and we will deliver 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament. In the Budget, the Chancellor confirmed a settlement of over £5 billion for housing investment in 2025-26 to boost supply. We are acting quickly, but we will not be able to solve the housing crisis overnight. That is why the Government will publish a long-term housing strategy next year, which will set out our vision for a housing market that works for all.

The noble Lords, Lord Bird and Lord Bellingham, talked about homelessness levels, which are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. As announced in the Budget, funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared with this year. This increased spending will help to prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and help to prevent rough sleeping. This brings the total spend to nearly £1 billion in 2025-26.

The noble Baroness, Lady Berridge, and the noble Lord, Lord Robathan, talked about child abuse, the Church and John Smyth. I am horrified by the serious and violent child abuse perpetrated against children by the late John Smyth. My thoughts are with the victims of these awful crimes, and their families. The recent independent review by Keith Makin into the Church of England’s handling of the allegations raised serious concerns about safeguarding and transparency. I can assure the House that the Government are committed to tackling all forms of abuse against children. We commit to write to the noble Baroness specifically on her numerous questions.

Noble Lords raised a very important point about Leicester and how we can learn lessons from there. The noble Lord, Lord Austin, is chairing an independent review of the unrest. The review panel will establish what happened, the factors that contributed to these events and what could be done differently in future. It is an opportunity to understand the different factors that played a role in the unrest and how the Government, the city of Leicester and other local authority areas can learn from it. It is not an exercise in apportioning blame to any communities, groups or organisations. We will hear the panel’s recommendations in the new year. The priority is to hear from those who know their city best: community organisations, elected representatives, official bodies and, most importantly, local people.

This Government recognise the need to strengthen and reinforce communities’ social cohesion and societal resilience, which impacts our ability to respond to change and uncertainty. For too long we have relied on the resilience, resourcefulness and goodwill of individuals and our amazing voluntary, charity and faith sectors. Successive Governments have left people to simply muddle along, without the commitment, strategies and policies necessary to support communities to shape their own lives.

Key parts of the social fabric that once tied us together—community centres, youth clubs, sports grounds, cultural venues—have reduced in number, leaving fewer opportunities for connection. Since 2001, the number of pubs has fallen by 26%, and the number of libraries has decreased by 28% since 2005. Today, fewer than half of Britons report being in a community group. This Government are committed to ensuring that communities across Britain are safe, united, and resilient against the threats which this country faces. Since the summer, we have been working across the country with councils, faith and community leaders and other key partners to talk to them directly about their challenges—I have been up and down the country doing this.

In conclusion, I would like to reassure the House that we are determined to take a long-term strategic approach to building social cohesion and community resilience. My department is leading cross-government efforts to transform this landscape over the years to come. I am talking not of quick fixes but of a commitment to working hand-in-hand with local government, communities, the voluntary sector, business, the charity sector and anyone of goodwill to address and overcome the root causes of division and discontent.

So let us not underestimate the power of unity. In times of uncertainty, we can choose to come together rather than drift apart. We can build a future where everyone feels valued, every voice is heard and every community is a source of strength. As the saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. Let us build a society where, no matter what challenges we face, we face them together. I will finish with the words of the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of York and his spiritual guidance—let us celebrate diversity. As the noble Lord, Lord Sharma, said in his speech, having united 200 countries, let us unite our country.