The Senedd’s Equality and Social Justice Committee is calling on the Welsh Government to take urgent action to address growing divisions in Welsh communities.
Its new report, Co-operation over Conflict: Wales must Act, warns that rising tensions, misinformation and extremist activity are putting public trust, safety and democracy at risk.
The Committee says Wales must act now to bring people together, protect shared spaces, and make sure everyone feels welcome and heard.
Recent events have shown how quickly things can unravel. Riots in Ely, protests in Llanelli, and opposing rallies in Newtown are clear signs that communities are under pressure and need support.
Jenny Rathbone MS, Chair of the Equality and Social Justice Committee, said:
“We’ve seen what happens when communities feel ignored - people lose trust, tensions rise, and things can spiral. We are facing a perfect storm: a cost-of-living crisis, shrinking public services, and a dangerous rise in misinformation and hate.
“We have a duty as politicians to run towards the smouldering discontent that could erupt unless we act.
“We’ve got great examples of communities pulling together, which we can build on; but that’s not enough. We need leadership, we need action, and we need it now.
“All stakeholders agree that the Welsh Government needs to coordinate our collective efforts to combat conflict that could cause havoc to our communities unless we act.”
- The Committee is calling on the Welsh Government to:
- Set up a national expert group by mid-November to lead urgent work on bringing communities together.
- Protect local spaces by giving communities the right to take ownership of buildings and land that matter to them.
- Tackle false information online by using real-time monitoring and working with trusted local voices.
- Support public involvement in decision-making, so people feel they have a say in what happens in their area.
- Respond to rising extremism by understanding what’s happening across Wales to help communities stand up to hate.
The Committee says the Welsh Government must act quickly and work closely with councils, community groups and others to make these changes happen.