Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Community Cohesion 2026-07-08

Wednesday 8 July 2026 · 8 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Secretary of State regularly meets with the Northern Ireland Executive and the Police Service to discuss community cohesion and recent serious disorder.
  • The Secretary of State agrees that the racist thuggery in Belfast was truly shocking and calls for social media companies to enforce removal of illegal material under the Online Safety Act 2023.
  • The Secretary of State discusses with political leaders the responsibility to call out violence and the importance of police and community organisations in maintaining stability during unrest.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Navendu Mishra Lab
Northern Ireland Community Security
Context

The question arises from serious disorder and unrest that occurred recently in Belfast.

Question

What discussions has the Secretary of State had with the Northern Ireland Executive on community cohesion in light of recent serious disorder?

Answer from Hilary Benn

I regularly meet the Northern Ireland Executive and the Police Service of Northern Ireland to discuss a range of issues, including community cohesion. However, given the recent serious disorder, there is a problem that needs to be tackled.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific discussions about community cohesion are not provided in detail

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Q2 Marsha de Cordova Lab Battersea
Community Security
Context

Racist attacks and violent protests took place after a knife attack in Belfast, targeting individuals based on their race.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that overt racism has no place in society following racist thuggery and violence witnessed in Belfast? What steps are being taken to address this?

Answer from Hilary Benn

I do agree that the attack on Mr Ogilvie was truly shocking, there was no justification whatsoever for the racist thuggery witnessed in Belfast. The Secretary of State met nurses and doctors from a hospital who described how, because of their skin colour, they were too afraid to leave the hospital at the end of their shift.

Answered
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Q3 Navendu Mishra Lab
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Online lists of houses in multiple occupation were used to target them for racial violence.

Question

What assessment has been made on online coordination during recent unrest and what discussions have there been with the Police Service regarding this?

Answer from Hilary Benn

Far right groups used a list from the Belfast city council website to target houses. The Secretary of State discussed social media companies' responsibility under the Online Safety Act 2023, enforced by Ofcom.

Answered
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Q4 Andrew Murrison Con South West Wiltshire
Northern Ireland Democracy & Elections
Context

Discussions took place between Ministers and party leaders regarding actions to reduce unrest.

Question

What points of agreement and dissent were there in discussions with the party leaders, and what UK Government actions were taken?

Answer from Hilary Benn

The right hon. Gentleman raises an important point; political leaders have a responsibility to call out violence, social media companies must enforce illegal material removal, police and community organisations did significant work during unrest.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific points of agreement and dissent are not provided in detail

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Q5 Gregory Campbell DUP East Londonderry
Northern Ireland Community Security
Context

Community cohesion is threatened by divisive actions and statements from political figures.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that praising indefensible actions of republican dead does great harm to community cohesion?

Answer from Hilary Benn

Northern Ireland has been undergoing profound change since 1998. Progress is due to society moving beyond divisions, but ethnic minorities are now terrified by recent events and paramilitary displays.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific affirmation or disagreement on praising actions not provided in detail

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Q6 Claire Hanna Social Democratic & Labour Party
Northern Ireland Democracy & Elections
Context

Lack of delivery and responsibility-taking by the Executive is threatening community cohesion.

Question

Will the Secretary of State convene a process for democratic reform of the institutions that a majority have asked for?

Answer from Hilary Benn

My hon. Friend is right; five main parties propose reform, I wish to meet party leaders to discuss these proposals. New powers were granted to the Police Service to remove paramilitary flags based on Jonathan Hall's recommendation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to convening process not explicitly stated in detail

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Q7 Robin Swann Ulster Unionist Party
Northern Ireland
Context

A roundtable meeting was held that included various organizations and representatives, highlighting a lack of coordinated response due to dysfunction at the top of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Question

In his first answer, the Secretary of State said that the recent disorder was a problem that needed to be solved. A fortnight ago, I arranged a roundtable in my constituency that included the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the police, the Executive Office, the Department for Communities and many other organisations and representative organisations, including the Black Diamond Initiatives. It was apparent that they all had their strategies and their procedures, but what they did not have was a co-ordinated response. They were all looking to the Executive to pull all those organisations together. If dysfunction at the top of our Executive is not allowing that to happen, what actions will the Secretary of State take?

Answer from Hilary Benn

There is a responsibility, above all, on the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland. There being no Executive in Northern Ireland for 40% of the time since the Good Friday agreement has not helped to achieve that objective.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not provide specific actions or commitments to address the lack of coordinated response due to dysfunction at the top of the Northern Ireland Executive.

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Q8 Mike Wood Con Dudley South
Migrants & Borders Northern Ireland
Context

A man accused of attempting to murder Stephen Ogilvie is thought to have crossed into Northern Ireland illegally from the Republic, raising concerns about illegal cross-border entry.

Question

The attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie in Belfast last month shocked people throughout the country. The man accused of this horrific attack is thought to have crossed into Northern Ireland illegally from the south. People from all communities are asking what more can be done to prevent people from coming into the UK illegally across that land border. Following the terrible events in Belfast last month, will the Government commit to significantly enhanced operations on the border, similar to those already run by the Republic?

Answer from Hilary Benn

We have already increased the number of operations and arrests in Northern Ireland in the last two years, in comparison with the previous period. About 1,000 people who had no right to be in Northern Ireland have been removed, including 500 who have been returned to the Republic of Ireland. The hon. Member will be well aware of the importance of the open border. Intelligence-led policing at the ports and airports under Operation Gull and visits to workplaces have resulted in more people being detained and removed.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not commit specifically to enhanced operations on the UK-Northern Ireland border as requested, instead highlighting existing measures without additional commitments.

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