The rioting which has erupted across the UK over the last week poses the first major test for the country’s new Labour government, just a month after it took power. Inflamed by far-right propaganda, the riots represent a violent assault on the values of tolerance which have long been a characteristic of British civil society. READ MOREYet again there are questions to be asked too about the role of social media platforms, which appear impervious to regulation or restraint. The challenge for the new government, therefore, is not confined to restoring order and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice. Once that is done, the underlying fractures in the social fabric which the disturbances have exposed will remain to be addressed.

Source: The Irish Times August 06, 2024 23:25 UTC