UK Government Launches Plan to Counter Extremism and Promote Social Cohesion
The UK government has announced a new plan, “Protecting What Matters,” aimed at strengthening social cohesion, tackling extremism and fostering a greater sense of national unity. The initiative comes amid rising hate crime statistics, particularly targeting Jewish and Muslim communities, and follows a period of increasing social strain attributed to rapid societal changes.
Addressing Rising Hate Crime
Recent statistics indicate a concerning rise in hate crime across the UK. Jewish people are disproportionately targeted, experiencing a higher incidence of hate crime than any other group. Religious hate crimes directed at Muslims are also at record levels, with many individuals expressing fear of being targeted based on their appearance or perceived origin.
Defining and Countering Anti-Muslim Hostility
In a historic step, the government is adopting a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hostility. This definition aims to clarify unacceptable prejudice, discrimination, and hatred directed towards Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim, while safeguarding fundamental freedom of speech. A special representative on anti-Muslim hostility will be appointed to support action to strengthen understanding, reporting, and response.
Strengthening Measures Against Extremism
The government is implementing tougher measures to combat extremism, including strengthening powers to shut down charities promoting extremist ideologies. Efforts will be focused on disrupting extremists, preventing hate preachers from entering the UK, and publishing an annual State of Extremism report.
Promoting Integration and Shared Values
The plan emphasizes clear expectations around integration for those settling in the UK, focusing on shared language, local participation, and respect for shared values. The government will review English language teaching methods and explore the utilize of new technology to improve language acquisition.
Investing in Community Cohesion
A £500,000 investment will support community-led school linking projects, bringing children from diverse backgrounds together to build friendships and foster understanding. Tougher oversight of home education, including the introduction of the first-ever mandatory register of children not in school, aims to ensure all children are exposed to shared values and experiences.
Building on Existing Investment
These new measures build upon the existing £5.8 billion committed to hundreds of areas through the Pride in Place programme, which aims to empower local communities.
The Broader Context of Extremism in the UK
The UK has faced a sustained terrorist threat for decades, which has been amplified since the October 2023 attacks in Israel and the subsequent fallout [1]. Research indicates that individuals involved in terrorism are deeply immersed in extremist ideology, actively seeking out, consuming, and even creating content to justify their actions [1]. The government’s definition of extremism, updated from the 2011 Prevent Strategy, reflects the evolving nature of extremist ideologies and the social harms they create [2]. Groups operating lawfully but seeking to undermine democracy, such as Islamist and Neo-Nazi organizations, are a particular concern [2].
Recent Terrorist Activity
On October 2, 2025, a terrorist attack occurred at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, England. Jihad Al-Shamie, a British man of Syrian descent, rammed his vehicle into the synagogue gates and attacked congregants with a knife, killing two and wounding four before being shot and killed by police [1]. This incident prompted police to label it a terrorist attack and utilize the “Plato” code word for marauding terror attacks [1]. Following the attack, three suspects were arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses [1]. The attack followed a spike in antisemitic incidents, with 1,521 recorded in the first six months of 2025, including three cases of “extreme violence” [1].
The UK government and intelligence agencies consider the threat from international terrorism to be “severe” and the probability of an attack “highly likely” [1].