His comments came as it emerged earlier this week that a cross-party commission will be set up to mend societal divisions across Britain. It will be led jointly by Sir Sajid Javid and John Denham, both former cabinet ministers.
“Six months after the (Southport) riots, which saw unprecedented scenes of racist violence and disorder, we face multiple challenges to social cohesion,” Katwala told Eastern Eye on Monday (3).
“The ongoing Middle East conflict has strained faith relationships in Britain, while sharp economic pressures continue to affect communities.”
The commission will be coordinated by the Together Coalition in partnership with British Future and Belong and will begin work this spring.
Brendan Cox, the husband of Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in June 2016 in her west Yorkshire constituency, established the coalition.
Katwala told Eastern Eye, “While previous governments have taken constructive steps – such as the Cantle review following the 2001 disturbances and John Denham’s work as communities secretary – these responses have typically been reactive rather than strategic.
“Similarly, Brexit served as a wakeup call about societal divisions, leading to important integration policies and pilot programmes.”
In his view, UK governments of all parties have historically responded to crises without maintaining sustained, strategic action. Katwala added, “Now, with increasing economic pressures, rapid technological change, and an accelerating pace of social transformation, we need a long-term strategy. This must build increased confidence in our growing diverse society – ensuring fair chances, equal stakes, shared voices, and mutual respect across different communities.
“That’s the fundamental challenge for this decade and beyond.”
According to reports, the new commission will seek to understand how to strengthen community links, cohesion and resilience, while developing recommendations for policymakers and a collective vision for the future.
Shalni Arora, co-chair of the Belong Network, said, “Six months on from the summer riots, this commission could not come at a more pivotal moment for social cohesion in the UK. The country feels increasingly polarised, and we are in desperate need of an honest conversation about where we go next.
“Belong knows from our work with local authorities, charities, and faith networks that there are already those doing brilliant work on the ground in their local communities, but this commission offers a chance to join the dots.
“I am glad to see cross-party support for this project, which will hold a mirror to society and amplify everyone’s voices, including those who feel unheard, hopefully, leading to a more united Britain.”
Katwala pointed out that the country has managed its growing diversity relatively well, compared to other democracies, but cautioned that as the pace of change accelerates, “we need stronger foundations and strategy”.
Asked about the role of migration in social division, he said, “While it can contribute greatly to society, we need to build broad confidence in managing it fairly for both newcomers and existing communities. This has been a polarising issue, with people from minority and majority backgrounds, younger and older generations, and different political views all expressing frustration with the current debate.
John Denham
“Cohesion happens among people at a local level, in the places we live, through individuals, local groups, civic organisations, and education. The foundations of social cohesion include economic and education status, confidence in national and local government, ensuring everyone’s voice counts, and maintaining trust and respect between different groups.”
Katwala said progress has been made across generations in this regard; however, there are still generational and geographical divides to bridge. “There tends to be more confidence in places with higher diversity, such as London and other big cities, but spreading this confidence across the entire country remains a challenge,” he added.
A recent report by the Fairness Foundation highlighted wealth inequality harms social cohesion, weakens public services and institutions, and reduces trust in the government and democracy. The thinktank warned social cohesion could decline or even collapse if people lose faith in democracy, face economic crises, or experience environmental disasters.
Released in December, the UK Community Life Survey found that about 81 per cent of adults believe people from different backgrounds in their local area get along well, suggesting a largely positive view of community harmony in the UK.
The survey also revealed that a strong sense of belonging to one’s neighbourhood was more common among Pakistani (71 per cent), Bangladeshi (69 per cent), Indian (63 per cent), and white British (63 per cent) adults.
Katwala said social media can sometimes be a force for good, but it can also drive and amplify division.
He added, “Many people feel that disorder and the spread of misinformation on social media are problematic. The challenge is that we may see weaker responses due to changes in platforms and political shifts, such as those in the US.
“Social media brings both challenges and opportunities, but it certainly intensifies the pressure of events.”
Katwala was optimistic about the purpose of the commission. “It is a crucial moment with a great opportunity. It is important to involve people in shaping a vision for society – one where everyone shares in shaping the future. It’s a great chance to get things right. Reaching out and engaging as many people as possible, including community leaders, is key to developing and sharing what the future should look like.”
The commission is expected to publish its report by the end of 2025, incorporating evidence from experts, academics, and polling on public attitudes.
"A plane carrying 33 Gujarati immigrants, including children and women, landed at the airport from Amritsar in the morning. They were among those who were deported from the US. We deployed police vehicles at the airport to transport them to their respective places," Oza told reporters at the airport.
While mediapersons tried to talk to the deported immigrants, they refused to say anything and left for their native places in the police vehicles.
Majority of them are from Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Patan, Vadodara and Kheda districts, sources said.
A US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants, including 33 from Gujarat, landed at Amritsar in Punjab on Wednesday (5), the first such batch of Indians deported by the Donald Trump government as part of a crackdown against illegal immigrants.
Family members of these illegal immigrants from Gujarat have claimed they do not know how their kin reached the foreign soil.
Former state deputy chief minister Nitin Patel had expressed sympathy for the deported Gujaratis, underlining the fact that they had gone to the foreign country looking for a job or career, and they should not be portrayed as criminals.
Deputy inspector general of police, CID-Crime, Parikshita Rathod said the police will not question the deportees at this stage.
Meanwhile, several opposition MPs on Thursday slammed the government for the way Indians staying illegally in the US were deported, questioning the treatment meted out to them.
The deportees claimed their hands and legs were cuffed throughout the journey and they were unshackled only after landing at the Amritsar airport.
Opposition parliamentarians, including Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, protested the treatment meted out to the Indians by US authorities by staging a demonstration in Parliament complex. Some of the opposition leaders protested while wearing handcuffs.
Indian immigrants who allegedly illegally migrated to US arrive in Ahmedabad. (ANI Photo)
Carrying placards like “Humans. Not prisoners”, the opposition leaders said they would not tolerate the insult to India and raised slogans against the government like “Indians insulted. India won’t stay silent”.
“We, the INDIA parties, shall not tolerate the humiliation of Indian nationals. Modi Government must come out with a detailed statement on the deportation and why did we not send our own planes to bring back the Indians, with dignity and respect, instead of a military plane landing on our soil,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X.
Sharing a video of a deportee who was narrating his ordeal, Rahul Gandhi said on X, “Prime minister, listen to this man’s pain. Indians deserve Dignity and Humanity, NOT Handcuffs”.
Talking to reporters in Parliament complex, Congress Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said prime minister Modi should answer why such treatment was given to those deported.
“I would say that a lot was talked about PM Modi and (Donald) Trump’s friendship. Couldn’t we send our plane to get them all back? PM should answer,” she said.
“We have been hearing that Modi and Trump are good friends… Why did he allow this to happen? Is this how you treat people, that you send them back in chains. Prime minister should answer, this is not the way,” the Congress general secretary said.
Yadav asked why these people were forced to leave India. “The question is not just about these Indians being sent back in inhuman conditions. They showed people a dream that India is going to be Vishwaguru. Now they are all quiet,” Yadav said.
Amid attacks by the opposition, Indian minister Chirag Paswan said the government will put forth its views at an appropriate time. “It is a policy decision and it should not be politicised by the opposition,” he said.
Former Union minister and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said the US has a legal right to deport people living there illegally. But we are protesting the way they were sent back. He suggested a civilian aircraft could have been used for the purpose.
India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar addressed parliament about the matter, stating that while restraints were standard US procedure, women and children were not shackled.
"We have been informed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that women and children are not restrained," Jaishankar said.
He added that according to ICE, the needs of deportees during transit, including for food and medical attention, were attended to and deportees could be unrestrained during bathroom breaks.
"There has been no change from past procedure," he added.
Jaspal Singh, one of the deportees on the flight that landed in Amritsar city, described a harrowing experience aboard the flight.
Singh claimed he remained in shackles until landing, contradicting official statements about restraint protocols. He told the BBC that he had borrowed Rs 4 million ( £38,000) for his attempted migration to America, undertaking a perilous months-long journey through terrain where he witnessed evidence of others who had perished en route.
The deportation forms part of a broader American crackdown on illegal immigration, with roughly 18,000 Indians identified for removal. Many of these individuals fall prey to fraudulent travel agencies, paying enormous sums for perilous journeys abroad.
The US maintains that enforcing immigration laws is vital for national security, though they have not commented specifically on the treatment of passengers during this particular flight.
(with inputs from PTI)
