I'M writing this article just before we vote on the EU referendum.

Whatever the result of the EU referendum, I believe it is clear we need to work to heal divisions and bring communities back together, with greater tolerance and understanding of the views and beliefs of others.

We live in a far too unequal society, and I believe this feeds ill-feeling and insecurity. We need to pull together and implement policies to lift up those struggling most, and work for a kinder and less brutal society.

There is a need to better understand and address the issues that many face – terms and conditions in work, a lack of full time work, low pay and casual employment. This must include the lack of social and affordable housing, worries about school places and access to health services. The UK is the 5th largest economy in the world, and many of these problems are a result of the UK Government’s policy choice to impose austerity and cut spending and services. A new approach is required to invest in our communities and improve our quality of life.

We also need a renewal of community politics and action, at local government, Assembly and UK Parliament level, as well as around community regeneration and more widely in the way we live our lives – with people more community focussed and feeling less isolated in our own homes.

It is clear in the wake of the tragic murder of Jo Cox MP that we need a new political and civic discourse that is less extreme, vitriolic, and hostile. It is one thing to disagree with others on the best way forward; but hate, and abuse, and dehumanising language coarsen our debates and lead to fear and division.

There are practical things we can do. Whichever way you voted last week, we need to respect that many voted differently, and that we all need to solve our problems together. When commenting in public, we should try to think first whether what we are saying is legitimate disagreement, or just an insult. And we can celebrate the positives of our communities and diversity by getting involved in civic life, by knowing our neighbours, and by learning more about the views and beliefs of people in different circumstances and from different backgrounds than our own.