Ministers have launched a cross‑government plan to strengthen social cohesion. Publishing “Protecting What Matters” on 9 March 2026, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, outlined early steps towards a more confident and resilient UK and set clear expectations for action across Whitehall and local partners. (hansard.parliament.uk)
The government has adopted a non‑statutory definition of anti‑Muslim hostility, centred on criminal acts, prejudicial stereotyping and unlawful discrimination directed at Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim. The accompanying text states the definition fully safeguards open debate and lawful criticism of ideas. A Special Representative on anti‑Muslim hostility will be appointed and up to £4 million will support implementation. Home Office statistics in the plan report 4,478 offences against Muslims in the year to March 2025-almost half of all recorded religious hate crimes. (gov.uk)
On antisemitism, the plan cites 2,873 recorded religious hate crimes against Jewish people in the year to March 2025 and notes that the Community Security Trust logged more than 200 incidents in every month of 2025. Protective security funding is being maintained for places of worship via the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme and the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme, alongside faith security training. Education and health reviews led by Sir David Bell and Lord Mann will inform further measures through 2026. (gov.uk)
Counter‑extremism measures will be consolidated. An annual ‘State of Extremism’ report will set out the threat picture and the government response. The Home Office will make its visa taskforce permanent to block hate preachers and other extremists from entering the UK, and will expand a specialist Disruptions Unit to coordinate action. The Department for Education will issue guidance this spring to help higher education providers manage external speakers under the Prevent duty. The plan also references Ofcom’s enforcement role under the Online Safety Act. (gov.uk)
Regulatory changes are proposed for the charity sector. Government intends to strengthen the Charity Commission’s powers to suspend trustees and close down charities implicated in extremist abuse; introduce trustee identity verification and digitised charity accounts; raise fines; and bolster local authority enforcement against unlicensed street fundraising. These measures, if legislated, would shorten intervention timelines and increase transparency obligations across the sector. (gov.uk)
Integration policy will be reset around clearer expectations: learning and using English, participating in work and civic life, and respect for shared values. Ministers will consult later this year on national integration expectations and will review English language provision, including digital delivery, with conclusions due in Autumn 2026. The plan also trails an ‘Earned Settlement’ approach, increasing the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years, with scope to reduce where significant contribution is evidenced, and commits to refresh the Life in the UK test. (gov.uk)
Schools and local authorities face new oversight duties. A further £500,000 will fund community‑led school linking projects to bring pupils from different backgrounds together. Oversight of home education will be tightened through mandatory local authority registers of children not in school and a requirement for parents to notify when home educating. Local authority consent will be required before the most vulnerable children can be withdrawn, with pilots of mandatory meetings ahead of withdrawal and powers to assess learning environments and socialisation. The plan also signals mandatory citizenship education in primary and secondary. (gov.uk)
On public order and hate crime, the Home Office will work with policing bodies to implement new protest and public order provisions after Royal Assent of the Crime and Policing Bill. Former Director of Public Prosecutions Lord Macdonald KC is reviewing public order and hate crime legislation, reporting in spring 2026. Ministers emphasise robust use of existing hate crime and public order powers and reaffirm that blasphemy law does not apply in the UK. (gov.uk)
The approach is anchored in place‑based investment. Pride in Place currently provides up to £5 billion over a decade for 244 communities and will be expanded by £800 million to 40 additional areas. Government also proposes a £150 million High Streets innovation fund, a £1.5 billion cultural package and a forthcoming Local Media Strategy. Communities would gain a statutory Community Right to Buy and every English local authority would be required to establish neighbourhood governance to give residents a stronger voice. (gov.uk)
Implementation spans MHCLG, the Home Office, DfE, DCMS, MoJ and DSIT. Early milestones include higher education guidance on external speakers this spring, the Macdonald review by spring 2026, and English language review conclusions by Autumn 2026, with consultation on integration expectations later in the year. Several proposals, including enhanced Charity Commission powers and new community rights, will require legislation and detailed guidance before they take effect. (gov.uk)