Some 50 pubs are closing each month across the UK (Image: Getty)
The closure of community spaces fuelled a “tinderbox” for the far-right to spark Southport riots, a think tank has suggested.
Youth clubs, leisure centres, pubs and piers shutting down have led to a weakening of the social fabric of local areas and leaving communities more vulnerable to far-right influence, the Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR).
Article continues belowADVERTISEMENT
Paul Gascoigne's Actual House Left Us With No Words - Take A LookOne Daily |
Undo
DON'T MISS
Powered by
The extraordinary but underrated road trip that's keeping country towns alive
The beautiful little UK town so supportive of independent shops Costa was driven out
The pretty little town with UK's 'best high street' - chock-full of 100 independent shops
Fury in Tenerife as locals fed up of selfie-taking tourists ruining beauty spot
Abandoned pier in a ‘declining' UK seaside town to get a ￡13m uplift
Labour interview sparks fury on GMB as fans have Charlotte Hawkins complaint
Liverpool 'reach mega Alexander Isak contract agreement' as Newcastle transfer talks set
DWP issued state pension warning hours after major announcement
I moved to Spain for a year - here's the harsh reality of moving back to the UK
The pretty UK town full of independent shops - but locals are sick of rich Londoners
Anglicans have kept faith with the Tories in a volatile age
Parks connect us to green spaces - that's why we've invested ￡1billion in them since 1996
Major pub chain shutting 9 bars today with 100 jobs at risk - full list
Good Morning Britain viewers furious as ITV star calls to axe pensions 'Deranged!'
Lowest monthly subscription rates, amazing trade-in offersM1 Limited |
Shop Now
Undo
Huge plan for empty shops on high streets revealed with more pubs promised
Pubs to open until 1am on Sunday as UK changes closing times
2025 Dental Implant Price InformationDental Implants |
Learn More
Undo
European island has so many tourists locals forced to shop for food 1 month in advance
Labour minister reveals bombshell new plan to 'save Britain's high streets'
Katie Price, 46, Takes Off Makeup, Leaves Us With No WordsDirect Sharing |
Read More
Undo
England fans should know 'burn or shred' rule for St George's flags
State pension age update as DWP makes huge announcement
Transform Your Career with Flexible ICT ProgramsNgee Ann Polytechnic |
Learn More
Undo
The extraordinary but underrated road trip that's keeping country towns alive
The beautiful little UK town so supportive of independent shops Costa was driven out
Kevin James Reveals His Wife And You'll Easily Recognize HerPersonalHealthMag.com |
Undo
The pretty little town with UK's 'best high street' - chock-full of 100 independent shops
Fury in Tenerife as locals fed up of selfie-taking tourists ruining beauty spot
We Have No Words For Dog The Bounty Hunter's TransformationCash Roadster |
Undo
Abandoned pier in a ‘declining' UK seaside town to get a ￡13m uplift
Labour interview sparks fury on GMB as fans have Charlotte Hawkins complaint
Adam Lambert, 43, Takes off His Makeup and Leaves Us Without WordsThe Noodle Box |
Undo
Liverpool 'reach mega Alexander Isak contract agreement' as Newcastle transfer talks set
DWP issued state pension warning hours after major announcement
25 of the Best Cities to Live Inwww.tripminutes.com |
Undo
I moved to Spain for a year - here's the harsh reality of moving back to the UK
The pretty UK town full of independent shops - but locals are sick of rich Londoners
These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World5minstory.com |
Undo
Anglicans have kept faith with the Tories in a volatile age
Parks connect us to green spaces - that's why we've invested ￡1billion in them since 1996
Remember Tiger's Ex-Wife? Try Not To Smile When You See Her NowPaperela |
Undo
Major pub chain shutting 9 bars today with 100 jobs at risk - full list
Good Morning Britain viewers furious as ITV star calls to axe pensions 'Deranged!'
Huge plan for empty shops on high streets revealed with more pubs promised
Pubs to open until 1am on Sunday as UK changes closing times
European island has so many tourists locals forced to shop for food 1 month in advance
Labour minister reveals bombshell new plan to 'save Britain's high streets'
England fans should know 'burn or shred' rule for St George's flags
State pension age update as DWP makes huge announcement
The extraordinary but underrated road trip that's keeping country towns alive
The beautiful little UK town so supportive of independent shops Costa was driven out
The pretty little town with UK's 'best high street' - chock-full of 100 independent shops
Fury in Tenerife as locals fed up of selfie-taking tourists ruining beauty spot
Abandoned pier in a ‘declining' UK seaside town to get a ￡13m uplift
Labour interview sparks fury on GMB as fans have Charlotte Hawkins complaint
Liverpool 'reach mega Alexander Isak contract agreement' as Newcastle transfer talks set
Dr Sacha Hilhorst, author of the paper, said: “The Southport riots were a wake-up call – a stark reminder of what can happen when communities lose the places that once brought people together. In the absence of shared spaces, misinformation and hate can fill the void, creating tinderbox conditions for violence.
“Rebuilding local infrastructure isn’t just about nostalgia – it’s a vital bulwark against division and the dangerous pull of the far right. But communities are not apathetic. They are crying out for places to gather, to organise, and to belong. We need a new generation of institutions to help them do just that.”
Powered By
00:00/01:31
10 Sec
431.6K
50
Express' Christian Calgie discusses migrant hotels
Next
Stay
Read more: Channel 4 Southport show sparks fury as viewers brand it 'blatant propaganda'
Some 50 pubs in the UK close permanently each month while an estimated 600 youth clubs shut between 2012 and 2016, the IPPR said.
Sponsored
Learn More
An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription
Undo
It added that only one in 40 Britons are now part of a social club, compared to one in 10 when Labour was last in power.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
The extraordinary but underrated road trip that's keeping country towns alive
The beautiful little UK town so supportive of independent shops Costa was driven out
The pretty little town with UK's 'best high street' - chock-full of 100 independent shops
Fury in Tenerife as locals fed up of selfie-taking tourists ruining beauty spot
Abandoned pier in a ‘declining' UK seaside town to get a ￡13m uplift
Labour interview sparks fury on GMB as fans have Charlotte Hawkins complaint
Liverpool 'reach mega Alexander Isak contract agreement' as Newcastle transfer talks set
DWP issued state pension warning hours after major announcement
I moved to Spain for a year - here's the harsh reality of moving back to the UK
The pretty UK town full of independent shops - but locals are sick of rich Londoners
Anglicans have kept faith with the Tories in a volatile age
Parks connect us to green spaces - that's why we've invested ￡1billion in them since 1996
Major pub chain shutting 9 bars today with 100 jobs at risk - full list
Good Morning Britain viewers furious as ITV star calls to axe pensions 'Deranged!'
Face full of spots... Used Gel from Watsons, Vanished.Beauty Institute |
Learn More
Undo
Huge plan for empty shops on high streets revealed with more pubs promised
Pubs to open until 1am on Sunday as UK changes closing times
No more thinning hair! This bestseller at Watsons works even in 40s-60sHair’s Rich |
Learn More
Undo
European island has so many tourists locals forced to shop for food 1 month in advance
Labour minister reveals bombshell new plan to 'save Britain's high streets'
Dating for Senior SinglesWingtalks |
Read More
Undo
England fans should know 'burn or shred' rule for St George's flags
State pension age update as DWP makes huge announcement
Personal Cooling Just Got Smarter — And It Doesn’t Need Installationdailygadgetreviews |
Undo
The extraordinary but underrated road trip that's keeping country towns alive
The beautiful little UK town so supportive of independent shops Costa was driven out
They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock YouReportingly |
Undo
The pretty little town with UK's 'best high street' - chock-full of 100 independent shops
Fury in Tenerife as locals fed up of selfie-taking tourists ruining beauty spot
Do you have a mouse? Play this for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about it.Panzer.Quest |
Play Game
Undo
Abandoned pier in a ‘declining' UK seaside town to get a ￡13m uplift
Labour interview sparks fury on GMB as fans have Charlotte Hawkins complaint
Singapore: New One Bedroom Senior Apartments Are Stunning! (Take A Look)Senior Living | Search Ads |
Search Now
Undo
Liverpool 'reach mega Alexander Isak contract agreement' as Newcastle transfer talks set
DWP issued state pension warning hours after major announcement
Taylor's New House Is Not What You'd Expect. See the Photo ProofsLittle Fries |
Undo
I moved to Spain for a year - here's the harsh reality of moving back to the UK
The pretty UK town full of independent shops - but locals are sick of rich Londoners
Not a Typical Dating PlatformJapansdates |
Read More
Undo
Anglicans have kept faith with the Tories in a volatile age
Parks connect us to green spaces - that's why we've invested ￡1billion in them since 1996
Breakfast: 15 Foods Never To Eat In The MorningHealth Natural |
Click Here
Undo
Major pub chain shutting 9 bars today with 100 jobs at risk - full list
Good Morning Britain viewers furious as ITV star calls to axe pensions 'Deranged!'
Huge plan for empty shops on high streets revealed with more pubs promised
Pubs to open until 1am on Sunday as UK changes closing times
European island has so many tourists locals forced to shop for food 1 month in advance
Labour minister reveals bombshell new plan to 'save Britain's high streets'
England fans should know 'burn or shred' rule for St George's flags
State pension age update as DWP makes huge announcement
The extraordinary but underrated road trip that's keeping country towns alive
The beautiful little UK town so supportive of independent shops Costa was driven out
The pretty little town with UK's 'best high street' - chock-full of 100 independent shops
Fury in Tenerife as locals fed up of selfie-taking tourists ruining beauty spot
Abandoned pier in a ‘declining' UK seaside town to get a ￡13m uplift
Labour interview sparks fury on GMB as fans have Charlotte Hawkins complaint
Liverpool 'reach mega Alexander Isak contract agreement' as Newcastle transfer talks set
Singapore: Meal Delivery for Seniors - Prices May Surprise YouMeal Delivery | Search Ads
Undo
Sponsored LinksSponsored Links
Anne Hegerty Steps Out With Her New Partner, And Fans Are StunnedGood Hype
Undo
Sponsored LinksSponsored Links
Undo
Sponsored LinksSponsored Links
My Brows Look Fuller Looking Now [See Results]NULASTIN
Undo
Sponsored LinksSponsored Links
Dr Parth Patel, associate director at IPPR, said: “Where shared spaces are lost, a sense of decline and disconnection takes root – and with it, dangerous alternatives thrive. The far right is exploiting the void where solidarity used to live – they capitalised on Southport’s disrepair to sow disorder.
Get the latest politics news straight to your phone Join us on WhatsAppOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
“If we’re serious about social renewal, we must rebuild the civic infrastructure that once helped people support each other and shape their communities. That means going beyond short-term funds or token participation – and investing in shared spaces people can call their own.”
The paper has been published one year on from the riots that began in Southport and spread across the UK last July.
Read Next
SUBSCRIBEInvalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy