At first glance, Barking and Burnley might seem worlds apart, one in East London and the other in the Northwest of England. But look a little closer, and you’ll find striking similarities. Both communities were once thriving centres of industry, home to proud, blue-collar workforces and a deep sense of civic pride. Both also felt the sting of deindustrialisation, as the institutions that once sustained them faded, leaving economic uncertainty in their wake. And both have had to navigate the challenges of rebuilding in a changing world, often in the face of political and economic neglect.

I was reminded of this while watching Bank of Dave: The Loan Ranger, a film that captures the essence of one man’s determination to stand up for his community. At its heart, it’s a story about civic pride and social responsibility, with fairness and values that resonate deeply with the work I’ve championed in Barking and beyond.

While Barking and Burnley have taken different paths in recent years, the common thread is the pursuit of inclusive growth. The idea that prosperity should be shared, and that every individual has value. Inclusive growth isn’t just about investment in bricks and mortar; it’s about ensuring that communities feel the benefits of regeneration affordable to them, that jobs created are good jobs, and that opportunities are not limited by postcode or background.

That’s why the recent work of the Fairness Foundation, alongside the Policy Institute at King’s College London, is so important. In November 2024, they brought together 25 senior figures from politics, government, business, academia, and civil society to examine one of the most pressing issues of our time, the risks that growing wealth inequality poses to our society, economy, democracy, and environment.

What stood out wasn’t just the quality of the debate and the subsequent report but the overwhelming consensus. Before the discussions even began, a straw poll revealed that every single person in the room regardless of their background, agreed that unchecked wealth inequality could be a major driver of societal collapse in the UK within the next decade. That’s a stark warning, and one that we cannot afford to ignore.

Fairness isn’t just a moral issue; it’s an economic growth and social imperative. If we are to build a future that works for everyone, we need policies that actively tackle inequality, support inclusive economic growth, and ensure that no community, whether in East London or the Northwest is left behind.

The lesson for me from watching Bank of Dave, from my work in Barking and Dagenham, and the work of the Fairness Foundation is clear: we cannot afford to accept a system that leaves so many behind. The question now is, what are we going to do about it?

Let’s keep the conversation going. How do we ensure that every community has a stake in a better future? I’d love to hear your thoughts.