A Guardian opinion column has called on UK Labour leader and Prime Minister Andy Burnham to address concerns about racism, anti-migrant protests and social cohesion in Britain ahead of his first Labour conference as leader.
Writer Polly Toynbee argues that political leaders should challenge racist and extremist rhetoric while keeping the debate over immigration policy separate from efforts to maintain cohesive communities. Her arguments are opinion rather than an independent assessment of Britain’s political climate.
The column cites Hope Not Hate founder Nick Lowles, who said the organisation was concerned about the response of mainstream politicians to far-right and ethnonationalist movements. Lowles also argued that opposition to irregular migration can coexist with support for cohesive communities.
Recent official data provides context for the migration debate. UK government figures show that 33,374 people arrived by small boat in the year ending June 2026, 23{0931a9b6576c5d87fe846c236d3725957ace4ff7894c2ecd00b9029ccfe6a5f9} fewer than the previous year. The National Crime Agency separately reported that first-half 2026 arrivals were down 41{0931a9b6576c5d87fe846c236d3725957ace4ff7894c2ecd00b9029ccfe6a5f9} compared with the same period in 2025.
Community cohesion indicators remain relatively high but have weakened slightly. The UK government’s 2025/26 Community and Engagement Survey found that 79{0931a9b6576c5d87fe846c236d3725957ace4ff7894c2ecd00b9029ccfe6a5f9} of people in England agreed their local area was a place where people from different backgrounds got along well, compared with 81{0931a9b6576c5d87fe846c236d3725957ace4ff7894c2ecd00b9029ccfe6a5f9} in 2024/25.
Toynbee highlights several examples of racial abuse and tensions around migration, including criticism directed at former prime minister Rishi Sunak and protests involving asylum accommodation. These examples are presented in the column to support its argument about political and social cohesion.
The article also discusses the role of community organisations, including Hope Not Hate, which works with local groups in areas experiencing racial or community tensions. Lowles told the Guardian that the organisation favours community engagement and de-escalation rather than responding to hate with hate.
The column concludes by urging Burnham and Labour to combine policies aimed at reducing irregular migration with a public emphasis on social cohesion and opposition to racism.
These conclusions reflect Toynbee’s political argument. They should be distinguished from the underlying factual developments, including changes in small-boat arrivals, government community-cohesion data and the activities of anti-racism and community organisations.
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