Former Chancellor Sajid Javid has sounded the alarm over increasing divisions in the UK, highlighting a worrying surge in online debates questioning the identity of non-white politicians.
Speaking to PoliticsHome, Javid noted that discussions questioning whether figures like Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are “truly British” would have been unheard of just a decade ago. In February 2026, Sunak described himself as “British, English and British Asian” after right-wing podcaster Konstantin Kisin suggested he could not be considered English because he is a “brown-skinned Hindu.”
As the UK’s first British Asian Prime Minister, Sunak has repeatedly warned that the country risks “slipping back” into more overt forms of racism. Javid linked the rise of such online talking points to how people now consume news, particularly through social media platforms shaped by algorithms and echo chambers.
However, it isn’t just the British identity of politicians under scrutiny, but the very identity and safety of minority communities. Recent incidents underscore this: in north London, Jewish charity-owned ambulances were deliberately set on fire, an act now being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime by counter-terror officers. Meanwhile, business owners in Wembley report feeling “stressed and very scared” after a series of attacks on South Asian-owned shops, with premises on Ealing Road repeatedly targeted by groups of youths. Despite multiple reports, no arrests have been made by the Metropolitan Police.
Tensions are further inflamed when public leaders question or attack the traditions and practices of minority communities. A recent example came during Eid celebrations at Trafalgar Square, when Conservative MP Nick Timothy described mass Muslim prayer as an “act of domination,” a comment endorsed by party leader Kemi Badenoch, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for banning groups of Muslims from praying publicly at historic British sites. Javid’s point is clear: when the country’s leaders undermine the identity of minority communities, it sets a tone that emboldens the public to do the same, targeting both leaders and ordinary citizens.
For the past two weeks, Asian Voice has highlighted that not just Muslim and Jewish communities, but Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities, are increasingly being targeted. Perpetrators often see only similarities between these groups rather than their differences, making solidarity more crucial than ever. The voice of all will be stronger than the voice of one is the emphasis and communities need to come together.
One example of an area where collective action could make a tangible difference is the Metropolitan Police’s decision to disband its twelve Faith Liaison Officers — the force’s key points of contact with London’s religious communities. These officers have historically built trust, provided expertise on religious matters, and helped bridge gaps between police and faith groups. Following a period of strained policing during the Covid-19 pandemic, flaws in the Prevent strategy, and erosion of public trust through police scandals, the loss of these officers comes at a time of heightened inter-religious and inter-communal tensions, a prospect faith leaders describe as deeply troubling. Multiple faith groups have now signed an open letter to the Mayor of London calling for their retention.
In an era of rising hate crimes, distorted narratives, and online polarisation, minority communities and their leaders must unite, hold those in power accountable, and ensure their collective voices are heard. In doing so, they can help protect not only their communities but the social cohesion of the nation itself.
