The novelist Zadie Smith has said that inequality has made culture clashes feel “existential”, adding that it has become “natural to look to your left and think ‘who the fuck are you?’”

In an interview with Dua Lipa as part of the Southbank Centre’s London literature festival, Smith argued that the demise of Britain’s “incredible, historic” welfare system has led to greater divisions.

The pair discussed Smith’s debut novel, White Teeth , which was published in 2000 and primarily set in the last three decades of the 20th century.

Asked by Lipa about how attitudes towards multiculturalism have changed since the 80s and 90s, and the current “dividing line” on immigration in UK politics, Smith pointed to increased inequality and unemployment.

“When you’re living in basically decent housing, when you hurt yourself you know you can go to hospital and be treated just like the rich kid down the road – then the differences [with others] become interesting, sometimes annoying, but not existential,” said the…