The Mayor discussed cohesion within divided communities and what strategies the local government has in place now that Britain has decided to leave the EU.

He said: “You can’t take an appreciation of difference and diversity and that internationalism for granted. It’s something we can’t just relax into, but we actually proactively pursue it. And I say proactively pursue it – we pursue our internationalism, and we build it, day by day.’

Mayor Rees added: “Our diverse population has economic, political, social connections to fast growing economic regions of the world, where they probably want many of the products that we develop in Bristol. Green technology, communications, digital; these things would be attractive if we begin to really revel in the diversity of our population.”

Hannah Dualeh, Bristol SU Equality, Liberation and Access Officer, also addressed the audience on what the University and the Students' Union are doing to reassure and advise staff and students who are concerned about the referendum outcome.