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Britain has undergone huge political, economic, and social change in recent generations. Accompanying this, More in Common reports that the number of people who think Britain is divided has risen sharply in the last three years, whilst the number who think we’re united has fallen. Looking at a crisis of national identity, what does it mean to belong to Britain in 2026 and what should our politics do to make belonging a realistic prospect?

Areas where community life has declined the most tend to be places that have experienced the harshest economic conditions, which makes this a socioeconomic challenge rather than a breakdown of communities. The local translates to the national. A country that feels less like a common home with a unified identity turns politics into a rivalry between groups, where one community’s gains feel like another’s loss. That’s part of what’s driving the division we’re seeing in recent years, capitalised on by certain political actors.

Being ‘British’ isn’t about ethnicity, but a shared civic identity that people of different backgrounds can take part in. Labour is a party of patriotism, the kind which takes pride in this country without looking down on others.

Labour must continue to pursue an honest conversation about immigration. It has improved British life in many ways, but its pace and scale in recent years, coupled with mismanagement by successive governments, have put real strain on community relationships. The economy requires migration, but policy should be guided by values of dignity and the common good. It should uphold rather than undermine social cohesion.

Proper migration policy should include strict labour standards so workers aren’t exploited, investment in training so we’re not solely reliant on overseas labour, and support for areas experiencing fast population change so local services can keep up. A heavier emphasis must be placed on integrating migrants into local communities, and the government’s intention to make community sponsorship a norm for the settlement of refugees is a move in the right direction.

Rebuilding a shared identity also means investing in cultural institutions which hold communities together, such as libraries, museums, and local media, and implementing stronger local decision-making. And it should also be channelled through education, teaching British history honestly for good and for ill and increasing partnerships between schools and local organisations to give young people practical encounters with service.

None of this is about creating unity through nostalgia. But if politics doesn’t speak to people’s desire for a confident shared identity, we leave space to those who profit from division. Building a collective national story is essential, rather than letting people retreat into separate, competing ones. It is the only foundation a stronger, connected Britain can be built on.