Today marks ten years since the murder of Jo Cox by a far-right extremist. More in Common was founded in the aftermath of this tragic event in 2016, and takes its name from Jo’s maiden speech in Parliament where she said: “We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”

Working with The Jo Cox Foundation, we have been looking at how well the UK is living up to her legacy – of choosing unity over division, and community over disconnection. Our research finds that while Britons’ desire for community and connection remains strong, we have lots more work to do. Most Britons think that community connection is important, but only a quarter say they feel more connected to their communities than they did ten years ago – with 40 per cent feeling the same level of connection and 30 per cent feeling less connected.

Age is a key factor here, with the majority of under 65s feeling disconnected while most over 65s feel connected. Yet hardship matters too: those struggling financially are more likely to feel disconnected from others. And this has a significant bearing on their lives: those who feel disconnected are much more likely to feel lonely, something which almost half of those who regularly feel disconnected experience.

Yet despite much coverage of divided communities in recent times, Britons tend to think the country is about as divided as it was ten years ago. Only a quarter think it is more divided, with one in five saying it’s more united. For lots of Britons, community is found in talking to neighbours, using local services and helping others. There is hope and encouragement in these everyday acts, but we know that we have much more to do to live up to Jo’s legacy.

You can read more about the research in detail in the Jo Cox Foundation and More in Common report Time Well Shared here: Download Time Well Shared Report