- Sir Sajid Javid, a politician and former Tory home secretary, has issued a stark warning that Britain risks being 'torn apart by our differences' and is in 'real peril', urging the public to find more common ground across communities.
- He launched a new, wide-ranging 'national conversation' research project, part of the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, to gather public opinions on what unites the country and how to foster cohesion.
- The project invites participants to complete an online survey and submit 60-second voice notes, which will be analysed by AI at Oxford University to identify steps that could bring people together.
- Sir Sajid expressed concerns about rising Islamophobia and antisemitism, emphasising the responsibility of political leaders to 'lessen tensions' and avoid 'divisive' rhetoric, referencing a recent attack in Golders Green.
- The initiative, which runs until the end of August, follows recent large protests in central London and aims to inform a report later this year with recommendations for building social cohesion, with polling indicating 75% of British adults believe the country is divided.
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