Communities secretary Steve Reed has asked the impossible. He is calling on councils to turn the tide on division with his new Protecting What Matters plan.
It's not that local government is not capable of the impossible – see this year's budget-setting for details. Nor has it shied away from action on community cohesion, or tackling extremism at a local level. It is the bread and butter of many local authorities with diverse communities – it is where they excel.
