Island ‘a high risk area’ for far right extremism
A REPORT has named Anglesey a high-risk area for farright extremism.
The report, which examined the impact of the coronavirus pandemic in England and Wales, identified 52 areas most at risk of farright views.
According to researchers, Anglesey has a combination of risk factors which means community tensions and far-right support are likely to rise.
The report, by Hope Not Hate, found Anglesey had been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and has low economic resilience, which – combined with the area’s low tolerance for immigration – means it’s at high risk of social tension.
Anglesey was the only authority in Wales on the list. Hard-hit parts of England included Liverpool, Blackpool and Rochdale.
Each of the 52 local authorities named are said to have “more hostile than average attitudes to migration and multiculturalism”.
Researchers suggest pandemic recovery support from central government should be geared towards enabling integration and strengthening communities.
The UK Government’s new “levelling up” agenda aims to build relationships between central and local government, to improve livelihoods and opportunities in all parts of the UK.
Rosie Carter, Head of Policy at Hope Not Hate, said: “The post-pandemic landscape poses enormous challenges. Many communities across the country are rightly worried about what the future will hold.
“But an additional risk that our research has identified is the fact that without a renewed focus on establishing social cohesion, ‘levelling up’ will not succeed.
A UK Government spokesperson said: “Levelling up all corners of the UK is at the very heart of this government’s agenda. We are empowering local leaders to seize their own destiny by funding projects that support social cohesion and tackle hate crime enabling communities to thrive.
“Through the £4.8billion Levelling up Fund committed over the course of this Parliament, we’re investing in vital new infrastructure and public services across the UK to boost living standards, create jobs, help communities restore local pride and spread opportunities to all.”