When my late wife Jo Cox was killed by a far-right extremist 10 years ago, the phrase “more in common”, taken from her maiden speech in parliament, became a rallying cry against extremism and division.

The phrase succinctly articulated that, no matter our differences, we have more in common than that which divides us.

In the decade since, that solidarity has faded. But it hasn’t just faded as time has elapsed: it has been replaced by a cynicism and a polarisation that it’s hard to overstate.

In an era of hostile states, algorithms designed to incite rage and collapsing community institutions, repeating the mantra that we have “more in common” is no longer enough. It’s time we mapped out that common ground.

Because what we have in common matters. It’s the strength of our connections that defines what we are willing to commit to each other. It determines the strength of our democracy and is the basis of........

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