As leader of Newcastle city council (2011-22), I was often faced with the summertime challenge of far-right marches and demonstrations being planned in the city. Many political colleagues would demand loudly that such protests be banned, or that larger counter-demonstrations be held to show superior numbers of “civilised” people versus “thugs”. I found such performative virtue signalling counterproductive and divisive. There was always a small hardcore of far-right activists at the heart of these conflicts, but they only got wider traction and support because of the anger generated by a keen feeling of cumulative injustices imposed on our communities through Tory austerity cuts and decline.
Understanding this sense of loss, the misguided desire to protect what was “theirs” and the misdirected anger at “outsiders” was essential in minimising their long-term success. Despite huge losses to the council’s budget, we focused on bringing inward investment, creating more and better jobs, building more homes and protecting public services that supported the most vulnerable. This may have been one of the reasons Newcastle voted – albeit narrowly – for remain in the Brexit referendum.
Far-right demonstrations always need an immediate and firm policing response, but also longer-term positive interventions to create opportunity for all, a sense of hope and a stake in the future. Labour should adopt this approach in its plan for national renewal. We could call it being tough on crime, and tough on the causes of crime.
Nick Forbes
Newcastle upon Tyne
• This week, we have witnessed the worst of Britain, as far-right thugs, unrepresentative of most people in this country, have taken to the streets to sow chaos and enact violence against people of colour and Muslim communities. This rampant hate has led us to cancel several charitable events, for the safety of our volunteers and supporters.
We have also taken the difficult decision to close our charity shops, prioritising the safety of our teams who run them in case they are targeted by the thuggery and vandalism that we have seen this week. These shops raise funds to help the most vulnerable, including many right here at home in the UK.
For years now, there have been opinions in the mainstream media telling us that Islamophobia wasn’t as bad as we in the Muslim community were saying. Yet now this rampant racism has led to our community fearing for their safety and being forced inside, even when we are trying to lead positive events to help people, including those in this country affected by poverty.
Tufail Hussain
Director, Islamic Relief UK
• Let us be clear on who is to blame for creating a tinderbox atmosphere in which anti-immigrant resentment thrives. Successive Tory home secretaries, lately with Rishi Sunak as their cheerleader, have demonised immigrants and refugees as the root of all the UK’s problems, as a flagrant tactic to distract from their abject failure to come up with any policies to fix any of Britain’s longstanding problems. Throw a sprinkling of Nigel Farage on to the smouldering fire and a conflagration is inevitable. Another mess for the Labour government to cope with.
Raj Parkash
London
