Jenkyns walks out of mayors’ meeting as social cohesion debate fractures cabinet unity

A meeting convened by Communities Secretary Steve Reed to discuss the distribution of powers under the recent Devolution Act descended into political confrontation on Thursday, resulting in Reform UK MP and Greater Lincolnshire mayor Andrea Jenkyns walking out. The incident occurred during a segment of the gathering dedicated to social cohesion, triggered by the murder of Henry Nowak and the subsequent civil unrest involving far-right demonstrations and arrests.

Reed opened the discussion by asserting that non-state actors were deliberately stoking divisions across Britain, specifically citing “hostile foreign actors” as exacerbating tensions in Southampton through social media. He requested ideas from the assembled metropolitan mayors to promote social cohesion. Oliver Coppard, Labour mayor of South Yorkshire, supported this view, noting that protests from both left- and right-wing groups had left communities feeling unsafe.

Jenkyns reacted sharply to these assessments, warning attendees she was about to drop a “truth bomb.” She argued that genuine social cohesion is impossible without freedom of speech and accused Labour figures of deflecting criticism away from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s handling of the case. Starmer has previously accused X owner Elon Musk of exacerbating tensions through constant posting and Reform leader Nigel Farage of exploiting Nowak’s death for political purposes.

The debate escalated into a direct confrontation with Labour mayors Steve Rotheram and Tracy Brabin. Rotheram rejected Jenkyns’ comments, accusing her of being part of a Conservative government that had ignored the suffering of Hillsborough disaster victims. Following a further exchange with Brabin, Jenkyns muttered something under her breath and left the room, while her Reform colleague Luke Campbell remained to conclude the meeting.

In a statement following the walkout, Jenkyns insisted she had “never condoned violence” and criticised what she termed “divisive identity politics and two-tier policing.” She maintained that ordinary communities felt unheard by the current political approach. Despite the row, Reed emphasised the government’s commitment to shifting power from Westminster to mayors, stating the administration remained serious about the Devolution Act’s implementation.

The murder of Henry Nowak was committed by Vickrum Digwa, a Sikh man who falsely told police that Nowak had racially abused him. The incident has prompted demonstrations attended by far-right activists, leading to violence and arrests. The political fallout has intensified scrutiny on the role of social media platforms and the government’s strategy for managing community tensions in the wake of the tragedy.