AN independent commission to help unite the country following last summer’s riots will be launched this spring.

The cross-party venture will focus on rebuilding community cohesion.

It comes after campaigners said it is an element of society that has been ignored for too long.

The commission will be chaired by former Tory Chancellor Sir Sajid Javid and Labour Cabinet Minister John Denham.

It is being set up after the widespread unrest in 2024 — one of the UK’s biggest social disturbances in recent years.

A report will be released by the end of 2025 after taking in evidence from experts, academics and polling on public attitudes.

A major exercise to engage the public by finding out the views of millions of people will also be part of the process.

The commission will also look at how a lack of voice and stake in the nation is leading to a declining trust in the state.

Brendan Cox, co-founder of the Together Coalition, which is backing the commission, said: “The country is crying out for a uniting vision for how we rebuild community life and address threats to cohesion — these issues have been ignored for too long.

“But to make that vision stick, it needs to start outside politics.”

Mr Cox added: “This commission is aiming to do just that — to ask the difficult questions, to engage the public and try to come up with a shared vision of how we live well together in modern Britain.”

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An independent commission to help unite the country following last summer’s riots will be launched[/caption]

SIR Keir Starmer has been accused of breaching Covid lockdown rules on Christmas Eve 2020.

Tory MPs have asked why he gave his voice coach Leonie Mellinger “key worker” status so she could visit him.

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Tory MPs have asked why the PM gave his voice coach Leonie Mellinger ‘key worker’ status[/caption]

At the time, Sir Keir was at Labour’s London HQ working on improving his speaking style.

The revelation emerged in new book, Get In, serialised in The Sunday Times, which charts Labour’s return to power after 14 years.

The book, serialised in The Sunday Times, reveals: “He considered her role so essential that Mellinger even qualified for “key worker” status during the pandemic.

“She visited Labour headquarters in a mask on Christmas Eve in 2020, advising Starmer as he considered his response to Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.”

Shadow Minister Richard Holden has written to the PM to quiz him over the development.

The Tory said: “You’ve said ‘honesty and decency matters’. I hope you will treat these questions to you with the same standards that you asked of others.”

Lord Kempsall said: “Starmer was calling for tougher Covid measures the day before he met his voice coach in person at Labour HQ in London so he could receive some vocal training, while the city was under tier 4 restrictions.”

It comes after Sir Keir was cleared by Durham Police when he had a curry and beer in an MP’s office in April 2021 after saying he would resign if he broke rules.

Ex-PM Boris Johnson told the country that Christmas plans couldn’t continue as planned due to the new Covid variant.

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PM Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of breaching Covid lockdown rules[/caption]

JORDAN HENDERSON let rip at a journalist as the Ajax captain denied pressing to join Monaco.

The Liverpool legend looked stunned when a reporter claimed a club chief had told him he wanted the move.

X / VoetbalPrimeur

X / VoetbalPrimeur

Henderson didn’t hold back as he gave his side of the story after being restored as captain for Sunday’s 2-1 victory over big rivals Feyenoord.

The ex-England midfielder, 34, had reportedly declined to skipper the Dutch giants in Thursday’s 2-1 win over Galatasaray in the Europa League.

Manager Francesco Farioli handed the armband to keeper Remko Pasveer, a cult hero at 41.

But when asked about his apparent desire to join Monaco, Henderson hit back defiantly 

He told a journo: The coach told you that I wanted to go to Monaco?? Because I had a big offer??”

Shaking his head, the 81-cap ace added: “It’s not true.

“Did Ajax say they wanted to sell us? Well, they’re negotiating, so I imagine they did, yeah. They’re negotiating.”

Henderson was urged to clarify the situation.

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X / VoetbalPrimeur

But he continued: “It’s not about the details. I’m not giving you details.

“I know the truth. I know what happened.

“I’m not here to give you details. I’m just here to tell you from my side.”

Henderson then insisted he was always willing to play and didn’t need to be talked into it.

He said of his coach: “He didn’t convince us, nobody needed to convince us. 

“Again you’re going into the details. I don’t need to sit hre and defend what happened.”

It was earlier claimed that Henderson has promised technical director Alex Kroes he will STAY at Ajax for the rest of the season.

Hendo is said to earn around £66,000 a week at Ajax, where he is under contract until the summer of 2026.

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Brussels doubts

SIR Keir Starmer will today become the first Prime Minister since Brexit to be ­welcomed once again into the dreaded embrace of Brussels.

He would be wise to keep them at arm’s length.

AFP

Sir Keir Starmer must not surrender Brexit when he ‘resets’ our trade relationship with the European Union[/caption]

For all that the PM wants to “reset” our trade relationship with the EU he must know that the price of any deal will involve giving up freedoms so hard-won in 2016.

At a minimum, that means allowing even more European fishing boats in our waters and a return to freedom of movement for the under-30s, capped or uncapped.

The latter could have a disastrous effect on immigration as potentially tens of thousands of young people flock here from the continent to work.

Yet the Brexit deal struck by Boris Johnson — while not perfect in every area — is working.

Ripping it up for marginal gains on reducing checks on goods at the border — at the price of becoming a rule-taker from Brussels all over again — would be a betrayal of everything our country voted for.

And the hope that EU leaders – terrified by the rise of populist right-wing parties – would be more willing to give the UK a good deal remains a deluded one.

End vile vids

FOR years, ministers have been warning social media firms to take down dangerous terrorist content and other unlawful material.

Yet the hateful and depressing spiral goes on.

Sick killing films gleefully watched by Axel Rudakubana remain online after his savagery in Southport.

The Sun had Jimmy Mizen’s murderer recalled to prison for posting a video of himself glorying in the crime.

Now we reveal another vile drill rapper boasted of making money behind bars by posting on YouTube after being jailed for murder.

Last summer the Prime Minister told the social media billionaires to clean up their act warning them: “The law must be upheld everywhere.”

We have yet to hear any solutions to this deeply damaging problem.

Red alert

THE war in Ukraine is once again reaching a dangerous tipping point with claims that a Russian victory could come in less than six months.

Grief at the death of 18-year-old Brit fighter James Wilton is shared by the families of at least 43,000 Ukrainian fallen soldiers.

The West cannot afford to let Vladimir Putin win – and send a message to the world’s dictators that they can easily do the same.

Inter Milan remain three points behind Serie A leaders Napoli, but only after a late equaliser in their derby clash with AC Milan.

A powerful minister is facing calls to resign after splashing $750 in taxpayer money for a private event over the Australia Day long weekend.

Terry Holohan was due to return as CEO this week after taking time away following his release by Mali’s ruling military junta who held him captive for almost two weeks over a tax dispute.

The major parties received a share of of hundreds of millions of dollars in political donations in the last financial year, new disclosures reveal.

Georgian police have arrested opposition leader Nika Melia as anti-government demonstrators attempted to block a highway entrance to the capital Tbilisi.

Thousands have gone without power as wild storms battered one state, with “hours of lightning” recorded in a major city and its surrounds.