As the independent review by Dame Sara Khan noted, “social cohesion” can mean different things to different people. The Senedd’s Equality and Social Justice Committee adopted the Khan Review’s definition for its recent inquiry:
Social cohesion is concerned with how we live well together in a diverse democracy and how we peacefully navigate disagreements for the common good, despite the differences among us.
The Committee’s report, Co-operation over Conflict: Wales Must Act, highlights growing challenges to social cohesion and calls for urgent, coordinated action. It recommends establishing an Expert Group on Social Cohesion – a recommendation the Welsh Government accepted immediately. The Welsh Government has since accepted all four of the Committee’s recommendations.
The Senedd will debate the Committee’s report on Wednesday 3 December. This article sets out the Committee’s findings and summarises the Welsh Government’s response.
How cohesive is Wales?
As the Committee’s chair noted, “Wales has strong foundations of cynefin and croeso to draw on”, which have helped communities navigate difficult times. Evidence gathered by the Committee shows Wales avoided the large-scale anti-migrant riots seen in England and Northern Ireland during the summer of 2024. However, this resilience cannot be taken for granted. Community disorder in Mayhill (north west Swansea) and Careau and Ely (Cardiff), and recent protests in Llanelli, Rhoose, Mold, and Newtown demonstrate that Wales is not immune to unrest.
Data from the National Survey for Wales showed that the proportion of adults agreeing with all three key measures of community cohesion (getting on well with people from different backgrounds, mutual respect, and a sense of belonging) fell from 64% in 2021–22 to 58% in 2024–25.
Stakeholders including the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), Race Council Cymru (RCC) and Wales Safer Communities Network report rising hate crime, discrimination, and online abuse targeting ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and sanctuary seekers, which often go unreported. The Committee found these tensions are compounded by economic inequality, misinformation, and extremism, creating fertile ground for division.
How does cohesion in Wales compare to the rest of the UK?
The challenges Wales faces are part of a wider UK picture. The Khan Review (2024) examined social cohesion in England and warned of rising extremism, polarisation and democratic disruption, calling for a radical rethink of how the UK builds cohesion. It highlighted new fault lines beyond race and religion, including political identity and freedom-restricting harassment which it described as:
intimidating, threatening and abusive forms of harassment that are directly causing people and organisations to censor themselves or avoid exercising their democratic rights out of fear.
In 2025, an Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion launched a UK-wide national conversation to understand how people experience connection and belonging. Its first report identifies long-term trends weakening community ties, such as declining infrastructure and trust in institutions, alongside emerging threats like social media-driven extremism and cost-of-living pressures, which they say are “leaving the UK sitting on a tinderbox of disconnection”.
Other research, such as More in Common’s Shattered Britain report, explores the values dividing UK society and highlights four drivers of discontent:
- a crisis of trust in politics
- exhaustion with daily struggles
- rising insecurity, and
- falling confidence in democratic institutions.
The findings of these studies raise a stark warning: without sustained, long-term strategies, the UK risks further unrest.
Why did the Committee call for an Expert Group on Social Cohesion?
The Committee heard many examples of the positive action taken by the Welsh Government to support and strengthen cohesion. Wales has a Community Cohesion Programme operating across all 22 local authorities. The ‘After the Riots’ report, identified the Cohesion Programme as an approach offering useful lessons for England. In her experience of working on the UK-wide Inclusive Cities programme, Jacqueline Broadhead referred positively to the role of the community cohesion leads, who provide leadership which is not replicated in many English local authorities. The Welsh Government accepted the Committee’s recommendation to maintain funding for the Cohesion Programme.
The Committee heard that while there are strong local initiatives and dedicated voluntary organisations, these can often operate in isolation. There is currently no overarching framework to measure cohesion, share best practice or respond to emerging threats from social media-driven extremism and misinformation and disinformation. In response to the Committee’s recommendations, the Welsh Government is exploring whether an online monitoring system can improve responses to misinformation and disinformation.
The Committee draws parallels with the Welsh Government’s rapid response to the cost-of-living crisis, arguing the same urgency is needed now. Rising extremism, misinformation, and socio-economic pressures are creating a “smouldering bonfire of dissatisfaction”. Without intervention, the Committee was concerned that isolated incidents could escalate into widespread civil unrest. An Expert Group has the intention to provide the leadership and coordination needed to align Welsh policies with UK-wide initiatives while addressing Wales-specific challenges.
What does the Committee expect from the Expert Group?
The Committee set out a clear remit for the Expert Group. The Welsh Government confirmed its tasks will include:
- Developing guiding principles: The Group will review and advise on the draft cohesion principles which the Welsh Government has been developing in conjunction with Regional Cohesion teams.
- Measuring social cohesion: The Group will consider how to improve measurement and monitoring. The Welsh Government has also met with Oldham Council, who the Committee highlighted as an example of best practice on measuring cohesion.
- Sharing best practice: The Group will consider the best ways of sharing and embedding best practice across sectors to support cohesion.
- Tackling extremist views: The Expert Group has also been asked to consider the best ways of tackling extremist views and activities in Wales, as was recommended by the Committee.
What are the next steps?
The Committee concluded that there are "solid foundations to build and strengthen social cohesion". However, it stresses that this work cannot be left to grassroots organisations alone. It requires strong leadership, adequate resourcing, and a whole-society approach.
Establishing an Expert Group is seen as the first step toward a strategic, long-term approach to strengthen communities, counter extremism, and ensure Wales remains a place of welcome and unity. The Welsh Government confirmed the Expert Group will first meet in November and meet regularly until March 2026.
You can follow the Senedd’s debate on Wednesday 3 December on Senedd TV or view the transcript shortly afterwards.
Article by Claire Thomas, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament
