MICHAEL GOVE has ordered an inquiry into unrest and violence that broke out in Leicester in September.

The Communities Secretary has placed Lord Ian Austin, a former Labour MP ennobled after calling for a Conservative vote in 2019 to defeat Labour’s then socialist leader Jeremy Corbyn, in charge of the probe.

Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe said she hoped the inquiry would “debunk” a false notion that religion was at the root of the unrest and said the real causes were division and poverty.

“I hope the inquiry focuses instead on the real issues of exploitation and the politics of division and political right-wing nationalism, far-right fascism and racism being driven from abroad through digital and online mediums,” she said, “including through the use of tools like Whatsapp.”

Her constituency, Leicester East where unrest took place, was “one of the most poverty-stricken areas of the country.

“Both child poverty and in work poverty are very high. There are high levels of inequality and disaffection and there is a lack of high-quality local jobs.

“This impacts for example on the opportunities available to disaffected young men.

“The organisations to help build resilience have long disappeared with austerity.

“It is time for the government to issue a statement and take seriously the politics of division and stand against those who wish to pit communities against each other,” Ms Webbe stressed.

The inquiry was also welcomed by the general secretary of Leicester branch of the Indian Workers’ Association, Sital Singh Gill.

He said Leicester had “a proud history of community cohesion, where over 70 languages are spoken.”

Mr Gove said: “This review will build a thorough understanding of the specific events that took place and what can be learned from them.

“I have spoken to both the Home Secretary and the mayor of Leicester to underline the importance of protecting all parts of the community in Leicester and we will not tolerate attempts to foster division or violence among people or between religious groups.”

Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he hoped Leicester and other cities could learn from the inquiry’s findings and “understand what needs to be done to ensure that our community cohesion is never again threatened in this way.”