British Future

Comment: Horror in Manchester and a glimmer of hope as communities respond together Responses to Manchester show why expressions of empathy still matter – not only symbolically, but also in practice.

Murder at the synagogue on Yom Kippur made Thursday a dark day in British history. My Eastern Eye column on the Manchester tragedy.
www.easterneye.biz/manchester-s...

Sunder Katwala on race, patriotism and flag-waving: ‘The far right is vocal and angry because it is shrinking’ The director of British Future has spent his career trying to find common ground when it comes to race and immigration. He describes his own experience of racism – and why he’s still hopeful for the U...

Profile in @theguardian.com today of our Director @sundersays.bsky.social – talking about immigration, race, prejudice, flags and patriotism – and why he's still optimistic about Britain
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

"I'm here as a Mancunian – that's what I'm representing" - British Future British Future's Avaes Mohammad reports from Friday's vigil in Manchester following the appalling Synagogue attack.

"Are you representing an organisation here?", I asked a Muslim attendee. “I’m here as a Mancunian mate,’ he replied. “That’s what I’m representing.”
Our Avaes Mohammad's reflections from Friday's vigil in Manchester following the appalling Synagogue attack.
www.britishfuture.org/im-here-as-a...

Equitable experiences, whatever your background; holding leaders to account and fostering a sense of belonging are all key for an inclusive workplace, says Anna Purchas of @kpmguk.bsky.social

Baroness Stedman-Scott ran a charity for 30 yrs that was all about finding jobs for young people. “Belonging is central… people need to feel not just present, but valued,” she says, adding that inclusion “needs to be practical, not performative”.

Starting now at #CPC25:
‘Unlocking Opportunity: The case for Inclusive Employment’
Speakers: Baroness Stedman-Scott; Siobhan Aarons of @toryreformgroup.bsky.social; Anna Purchas, @kpmguk.bsky.social;
Prerna Bhardwaj, Mayor of Gerrards Cross; @sundersays.bsky.social British Future.

Getting inclusion right in polarised times - British Future How can work on equality, inclusion and diversity navigate an increasingly polarised political climate? asks Sunder Katwala.

Blg from @sundersays.bsky.social, 'Getting inclusion right in polarised times' www.britishfuture.org/getting-incl...

‘Unlocking Opportunity: The case for Inclusive Employment’
Speakers: Baroness Stedman-Scott; Siobhan Aarons of @toryreformgroup.bsky.social; Anna Purchas, @kpmguk.bsky.social;
Prerna Bhardwaj, Mayor of Gerrards Cross; @sundersays.bsky.social British Future.
#CPC25

How do those working for fairness and inclusion in the workplace differentiate hostile backlash from legitimate critique and challenge?
If you’re at @conservatives.bsky.social party conference today, join us to discuss (Midland Hotel, Trafford, 6pm)
#CPC25 [1/3]

It is a joint statement from the Board of Deputies and the JLC. Its sad something like this needed to be said on the first Sabbath after Thursday but many people from every faith & none will be glad to see the clarity with which this longstanding position has been reiterated, and so can amplify it

“Most British Jewish voices have consistently been clear that they reject Robinson’s bogus claim to be an ally of their community. It is important that we hear that again now.”

British Future Director @sundersays.bsky.social on Israeli govt invite to Tommy Robinson [1/2]

“Tommy Robinson is a voice of prejudice and division. There should be cross-party and multi-faith pressure on the Israeli government to withdraw its invitation…

Its important to have vigilance about the threats and risks, in order to have effective security efforts.

Alongside that, also useful to show how exceptional that remains, given efforts by varied extreme voices to normalise + socialise violence (to legitimise revenge + pre-emptive violence)

To everyone in Britain's Jewish Community: you are not alone. We will not let hate or those who spread it win. We stand with you.

On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day.

As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.

At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.

Terrible news that two people were killed in Manchester attending their place of worship at the synagogue in Manchester, with others seriously injured.

Community Security Trust @cstuk.bsky.social who do so much to keep Jewish people safe at faith and community spaces have issued this advice.

Join us at #CPC25, Mon 6 Oct 6pm for:
‘Unlocking Opportunity: The case for Inclusive Employment’
Speakers: Baroness Stedman-Scott; Siobhan Aarons of @toryreformgroup.bsky.social ; Anna Purchas, @kpmguk.bsky.social ;
Prerna Bhardwaj, Mayor of Gerrards Cross;
@sundersays.bsky.social , British Future.

Can progressives find a response to populism? The prime minister made headlines by calling the Farage plan ‘racist’

'Can progressives find a response to populism?' New @sundersays.bsky.social column for @easterneye.bsky.social from Labour Party conference #LPC25
www.easterneye.biz/keir-starmer...

Great to see Lisa Nandy announce a new ‘Town of culture’ competition - something British Future’s been calling for since our 2019 ‘Crossing Divides’ report by @sundersays.bsky.social @jillyrutter.bsky.social.
Culture’s not just for cities!
www.britishfuture.org/publication/...
#LPC25

The Hillsborough families campaign and the law is an emotional starting point for Keir Starmer’s speech to the Labour conference

Hillsborough, Windrush, Grenfell and grooming gangs are linked together the state failing to listen when the victims are working-class, black or white

Companies aren’t always even doing the basics, says Hayley - like giving people reasonable adjustments for disabilities. You shouldn’t have to constantly advocate for yourself just for the bare minimum, says @umakumaran.bsky.social - arguing that new legislation will make a difference.

We thought long and hard about having a social mobility staff network at KPMG, says Anna. Data showed that background has an impact on progression at work, so we went ahead, partners backed it and it now has over 1000 members, she says

Middle-class people are over-represented among those advocating for equality and inclusion at work, says one audience member - is that why class is so overlooked in this work?
@umakumaran.bsky.social agrees - class is the biggest divide and we should be trying to raise standards for everyone.

A lot of senior teams are unclear about what they actually want to see and achieve with equality and inclusion, says Hayley. They need a clear strategy and articulation of their direction and why the work’s important, she says.

This is about fairness and we need to hear more of the personal stories of unfairness and how it impacts on people, says @anneliesedoddsmp.bsky.social - for example when they don’t have the same pay or advancement opportunities as their colleagues.

KPMG is a large organisation and this issue is important to us and the people who work here, says Anna Purchas of @kpmguk.bsky.social We feel we should be standing up on inclusion and having this conversation, she says.

“I didn’t think I’d live in a Britain where questions of fairness and equality have become polarised - but here we are,” says Uma Kumaran MP.
There is a wilful attempt to mislead people about what Equality and diversity work is about, she says - and we need to address that.

At our #LPC25 event ‘Creating Inclusive Workplaces: Challenges, Choices and Change’ (ACC Room 11a) with Anneliese Dodds MP; Uma Kumaran MP; Anna Purchas (KPMG Vice Chair and London Office Senior Partner); Hayley Bennett of HTVB Consultancy; and Heather Rolfe of British Future.

This govt needs to be able to approach the next election having reduced small boats crossings and able to say ‘we are protecting our borders and protecting refugees’, says Frank Sharry

“I come from the US with a cautionary tale for the UK,” says Frank Sharry. If we can’t manage immigration with control and compassion, he warns, right-wing populists are going to seize the agenda and handle it with control and cruelty.

Abdulrahman Bdiwi, who came to UK from Syria under resettlement scheme, points out that for most refugees from other countries, there is no such safe route.