Cross-party commission launches National Conversation to address UK social fracture
Former Conservative chancellor Sajid Javid and former Labour policy chief Jon Cruddas co-chair initiative aimed at mapping community sentiment amid rising perceptions of division.
The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion has launched the National Conversation project, an initiative designed to rebuild social cohesion by soliciting public visions for the United Kingdom. Co-chaired by former Conservative chancellor Sajid Javid and former Labour policy chief Jon Cruddas, the commission argues that the answers to national division lie in local communities rather than Westminster.
Javid warned that the country risks being torn apart by its differences unless a shared sense of unity is regained. He stated that the vision for the future must come from the public, not politicians, and expressed confidence in the wisdom of citizens to provide that direction. The project runs from 18 May until the end of August, with a final report scheduled for publication later this year.
Participants are invited to complete a 10-minute survey and submit a 60-second voice note detailing their views on their community and country. The survey, designed by Professor Melinda Mills of Oxford’s Nuffield College, utilises artificial intelligence to analyse the language, emotional register, and community texture of the voice submissions. Mills noted that AI has revolutionised the ability to conduct such mass listening exercises.
The commission was convened by the Together Coalition, a nonprofit cohesion campaign co-founded by Brendan Cox, the widower of the murdered MP Jo Cox. The project’s membership includes figures from across the political spectrum, such as human rights activist Sara Khan, former West Midlands mayor Andy Street, former Green party leader Caroline Lucas, and Reform UK activist Tim Montgomerie. Playwright James Graham also advised on the project's design.
Polling conducted by the British Red Cross indicates a significant perception of fragmentation, with 75% of UK adults believing the country is divided and 72% stating that division has increased over the last five years. Previous evidence-gathering by the commission has covered housing, education, the economy, and trust, featuring testimony from figures including Michael Gove, Mary Beard, and David Cameron.