Failure to assist ‘socially-isolated’ communities could lead to further riots across England, a senior government minister has acknowledged.

Writing exclusively in The MJ this week, Andrew Stunell, the Liberal Democrats’ communities minister, acknowledges that the events of last month – which saw rioting and looting spread quickly across London, Birmingham, Manchester and other major cities – reflect ‘lingering’ problems with traditional community cohesion within some areas.

Support in some quarters for right-wing groups, such as the English Defence League, also imply there are ‘enduring problems of cohesion and integration up and down the land,’ the minister writes.

In what could act as a wake-up call to those elements within Whitehall and local government which have, to date, treated the riots largely as a law and order issue, Mr Stunell warns that the incidents have ‘provided a jolt to any thought that social alienation was a thing of the past’ in Britain.

In the aftermath of the riots – which largely took place close to areas with high deprivation rates – private concerns were raised the coalition government had not taken its ‘communities’ remit seriously enough since being elected.

Senior figures at the DCLG – including communities secretary, Eric Pickles – have subsequently identified a plan of action to tackle traditional cohesion challenges across affected areas. But questions remain over the commitment to a co-ordinated government programme across non-DCLG Whitehall departments.

Mr Stunell’s article makes clear the extent of the challenge. ‘If we fail to tackle those problems, we not only face more flash points, we will also be leaving another generation in those neighbourhoods completely stuck – socially isolated and economically unproductive,’ he writes.

‘Where jobs are scarce, unemployment high, competition for housing and other resources fierce, then the resulting tensions tend to undermine cohesion and integration,’ he writes.

Prime minister, David Cameron, this week handed out London’s ‘community Oscars’, designed to reward youngsters for their positive community work.

The Spirit of London awards, also supported by Premier League footballers and music stars, were handed to, among others, Olympic Games hopefuls who have eschewed gang culture in favour of sport and the creative arts.

Mr Cameron said the awards were a ‘powerful antidote to what we saw in the summer’.