British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that racism and intolerance have worsened in the UK over the past decade. Addressing Parliament, he warned that this trend threatens social cohesion and discourages many citizens from participating in public life.
This statement comes a day after a Reuters investigation revealed that some Britons from ethnic minorities fear a resurgence of racism, fueled by anti-immigration rhetoric and the increased focus on crime in the political debate. These concerns arise amid recent tensions, including protests in Southampton following the murder of Henry Nowak and riots in Belfast after a knife attack.
Responding to a question from an MP concerned about the normalization of racist rhetoric and calls for violence, including from some politicians, Keir Starmer stated that "racism and intolerance are spreading everywhere." He added that these phenomena "are tearing our societies apart" and must be condemned by the entire political class, regardless of their level of responsibility.
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Jo Cox, the Labour MP assassinated in 2016 by a far-right extremist just days before the Brexit referendum. A champion of immigration and social cohesion, her death deeply affected the nation.
Keir Starmer confided that, reflecting recently on the assassination, he felt the situation had worsened rather than improved over the past decade. The Reuters investigation published Tuesday also reported warnings from trade unions and professional organizations about a rise in racist incidents in the workplace and in public life, amid growing tensions in the UK.
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