We have been appalled by the violent, racist, and Islamophobic riots which have erupted across the UK, and offer our full solidarity to all communities affected.

For decades politicians have falsely scapegoated the growing ills of economic deprivation in the UK onto the shoulders of migrants and asylum seekers. In truth, this deprivation was caused by banks who crashed the economy in 2008, and politicians who responded to this by ruthlessly cutting public services and spending, whilst prioritising the wealth and profits of an oversized financial sector and other big corporations. Certain politicians and media outlets have used divisive and racist rhetoric to mask the impacts of austerity as recently as the 2024 general election campaign. This cannot continue.

The new government must address far-right, racist and anti-migrant narratives. We must acknowledge that structural racism continues to plague our economy through the racial wealth gap and inequalities in housing and employment. This means looking at how our finance-led extractive economic model is rooted in the history of slavery and colonialism, and working to better understand the ongoing impact.

Instead of allowing a rich elite to exploit people and nature to line their pockets, we must demand action from the new government to push back against this hatred and division by striving to put racial justice at the heart of economic policymaking. Only then can we redesign our economic system for a safer and fairer future for us all.

Communities across the country are trying to repair and rebuild after attacks, they provide an example of what work lies ahead for everyone.

As the thousands upon thousands of people who joined counter demonstrations in towns and cities from Brighton to Newcastle last night showed; we are many, and they are few. [1]

We send solidarity to all those opposing the far-right and building communities of resistance and support today, and into the future.

Our financial and monetary system is not neutral or isolated from racism and other structures of oppression. That’s why together, we must build a movement that addresses both racial and economic justice. Thank you for being part of that movement, John.

Hannah, Positive Money

[1] ‘Hate not welcome’: Thousands of anti-racism protesters take to streets in show of defiance against far right, Independent

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