Address immigration concerns or face more riots, Rayner tells Starmer

LocalPolitics
22 Jul 2025 • 11:52 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, has warned the government that the UK faces a repeat of last year's summer riots unless it addresses public concerns.
  • She cited economic insecurity, immigration, increased online engagement, and declining trust in institutions as key factors contributing to potential unrest.
  • Ms Rayner said that 17 of the 18 places most affected by last summer's disorder, in the wake of the Southport murders, were among the most deprived areas in the UK.
  • Her warning follows recent violent protests in Epping, Essex, over an asylum hotel, which a local Conservative MP said has put the community “at boiling point”.
  • It is understood that Ms Rayner has been working on a community cohesion project for some time in the wake of the riots almost a year ago.

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