ISLES OF SCILLY RANKS HIGHEST FOR COMMUNITY COHESION IN ENGLAND

The Isles of Scilly have ranked highest for social cohesion across all 296 local authorities in England, according to analysis of the National Conversation survey. The archipelago, located 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall with a population of around 2,300, scored highest on measures of community friendliness and civic life. Among residents surveyed, only three per cent reported feeling lonely, 94.5 per cent said different backgrounds get on well, and 88.8 per cent said they belonged to their neighbourhood and spoke to neighbours at least monthly. South Hams, West Devon, Derbyshire Dales and Richmond upon Thames also ranked among the top areas for community cohesion.

The National Conversation survey, designed by the University of Oxford, asked residents to rate loneliness, trust in neighbours and pride in their local area. The recorded average across England for loneliness stood at 6.6 per cent. Barking and Dagenham ranked lowest in the analysis, with 42.8 per cent of residents expressing pride in their area and 10.1 per cent reporting loneliness. Ipswich, Stoke-on-Trent and Mansfield also scored low on the index.

The survey was introduced at what researchers described as a critical moment for Britain's social fabric, following recent violent riots, attacks targeting migrant communities and declining trust in institutions. The National Conversation project will inform a report later this year by the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, co-chaired by former Conservative home secretary Sir Sajid Javid and former Labour policy co-ordinator Jon Cruddas. Sir Sajid stated that regaining a shared sense of common purpose was essential to prevent the country being "torn apart by our differences".