The Lib Dems are the firewall against hate and extremism in Sutton

Sutton is a place where worlds collide beautifully. Walk down our high streets, join a local community group, or even just talk to your neighbours - and you’ll meet people from all walks of life, all races and all religions.

The vast majority (70%) were born and raised here in Britain.

Of the remainder, 20% have lived here for more than 10 years, recent arrivals include the Hong Kongers who fled oppression and chose Sutton as the perfect opposite to build their new lives in, and who now fill our community groups with joy, service and care.

It is this diversity and richness that makes me and so many others proud of Sutton. We are not just wealthier but stronger, and not just happier but wiser, for being the product of the years of history that has led people from all corners of the world to this place, at this time. Any decent person can see that we are stronger and richer because of our Commonwealth history, our European legacy and our recent offering of Hong Kongers sanctuary.

That is why we must defend it in the face of rising division - stoked by the far-right and indulged dangerously by Reform and even some Conservatives.

At tonight’s Full Council meeting, Sutton’s Liberal Democrat councillors passed a motion calling on the Home Secretary “to provide support and resources to local authorities to help build community cohesion and oppose racism, hate, hostility and anti-migrant sentiment.”

We did this not because we thought we should - but because we knew we had to. It is more important than ever that responsible, liberal councils do three things:

Firstly, we have to reassure those in our community who are targeted by hateful rhetoric (and all too depressingly, sometimes worse) that we have their backs. We will never tolerate a situation where anyone in our community is afraid to walk down the street for fear of being met with hate just for being themselves.

Secondly, we have to actively take on those who hate all that is great about Sutton. We will always fight for opportunity for all and to address the big, structural issues in this country that have led some people to despair and frustration. But no amount of despair and frustration can ever justify hatred, division or violence, and so we will always work with the police to tackle extremism head-on.

And finally, we have to remind the quiet, vast majority of ordinary hardworking people in Sutton that they have our support in challenging hate and division - privately, publicly and, of course, online. We have to actively encourage cohesion, celebrate diversity and support bringing people together with respect and dignity. It is only right that in these darker times, those in positions of power take the lead. We take that responsibility very seriously.

It is a shame that not every party does - and that some actively refuse to take that leadership. The Conservative Party are following Reform down a worrying path - and the suggestions by some that they would even remove indefinite leave to remain from people who have made their whole lives in the UK is proof that they are out of touch with our values. They would wreck Sutton like they wrecked the country.

Where others might stumble awkwardly around, we are clear: we back openness, tolerance and unity every time. For the sake of our community, Sutton needs a firewall against hate and extremism. The Liberal Democrats are now, as we have always been, that firewall.