After the riots: why we need free speech more than ever

With the post-riots crackdown threatening our right to speak openly, read Claire Fox on why you should join us at the UK's premier free-speech festival.

As the weeks go by since riots seemed to take over in towns and cities across the UK, the fallout becomes clearer in terms of attacks on free speech - arrests have been made not just for violence or destruction, but for online messages, too. In response, we at the Academy of Ideas have become all the more determined to ensure that free speech - this cornerstone of democracy - is not sacrificed under the auspices of restoring order. 

While sending people to prison for violent disorder, attacking the police or burning buildings seems reasonable to most people, there is widespread, even international, disquiet and alarm at the numbers being jailed for speech-related ‘crimes’. This includes not just chants used on the streets but unpleasant memes or sentiments shared online by people nowhere near the riots themselves.

The notion of incitement seems to have been expanded, while contentious concepts such as mis-and-disinformation, and stirring up hatred, have become a catch-all for rounding up and prosecuting a wide range of people. That so many have pleaded guilty, allegedly to avoid being remanded in custody and longer sentences, is in danger of discrediting the forces of law and order. Keir Starmer’s promise to bring in even more expansive censorship tools via amending the Online Safety Act to include legal but harmful material, looms large. And, ironically, the use of social media by official bodies, whether the CPS or police - posting theatrical, slick films of individual arrests (with dramatic music), sombre public-sentencing clips and videos with stark warnings in bold capital letters ‘think before you post’ - create a worrying Big Brother vibe to the moment.

In that context, I have been taking any opportunity I can to explain what is going on in the UK. I was interviewed by newspapers in Brazil and Italy in the past week (don’t worry – lots in English below):

It is interesting to talk to people outside the UK. In the below podcast from the US, Vance Crowe started with his reading of events, and it became apparent that he had picked up a real mixture of half-facts and misinformation. I corrected this, and had a really fascinating and long conversation that went way beyond the immediate issues on the streets. But it is telling how nervous I was initially, imagining that a malicious clipping of the conversation could lead to the police turning up at my door. You can listen here:

I was on BBC 2’s Newsnight , where the focus started with the idea of EU as hero and Elon Musk as villain - hmmm - while I tried to explain the dangers of using prison sentences to send a political message.

I was a guest on the Spectator Podcast, alongside Cindy Yu and Katy Balls.

I joined Alex Phillips on Talk to ask: What is going on with our police? 

I joined the IEA podcast: The Battle for Truth: social media, riots, and freedom of expression.

And last, but not least, I was honoured to co-host this week’s Planet Normal for the Telegraph with Liam Halligan, which started with a discussion about the aftermath of the riots and the Labour government’s response:

What’s really exciting is that Liam and Allison Pearson will be recording a special edition of Planet Normal at this year’s Battle of Ideas festival (19-20 October) as part of a special Podcasts Live strand each day of the  festival. 

Indeed, the Academy of Ideas team are busy building the programme for this year’s Battle of Ideas – the very embodiment of free speech in action. Our new slogan seems crucial: Conversations for the public, with the public, in public. This motivation for this year’s festival from co-convenors Alastair Donald and Ella Whelan is spot on: Why the Battle of Ideas festival 2024?

For a flavour of the diversity of the discussions at the festival, see this year’s provisional programme here:

EARLY BIRD TICKETS are available UNTIL 9 SEPTEMBER (with special reductions for those who are paying Substack subscribers):

For anyone who hasn’t attended before, this year’s festival will be our nineteenth, and, as ever, we will be hosting a no-holds-barred interrogation of future political, social and cultural trends. This year we will host around 400 speakers from the UK, Europe and beyond each year. Since 2005, the Battle of Ideas has challenged speakers and audiences alike to ‘shape the future through debate’. Over 3,000 people from all walks of life dispute and discuss the key issues and ideas of our time, at around 100 diverse and lively sessions across the weekend. 

And yes, the UK has been torn apart by riots that, while universally condemned, have elicited polarised responses in terms of explaining and dealing with the social unrest. But, beyond that, the divisions created by the Culture Wars seem to be getting bigger. A febrile atmosphere is evident throughout Europe and the US, and there appears to be less willingness for many people to engage with, or even hear, the views from the ‘other side’. 

This is why the Battle of Ideas festival is so important - as an opportunity to escape the social-media silos and ‘echo chambers’ - for everyone involved, from speakers to audience members. We invite you to challenge each other and yourselves. Unlike other public events, the audience are not passive; half of the time allocated to each panel discussion is open to attendees to contribute, ask questions and make your voice heard.

You don’t need to believe me. As two of our former speakers have said: 

The Battle of Ideas was the most impressive event I've attended this year. The range of discussions, the variety of opinions, the professional organisation and the quality and civility of the debates were a breath of fresh air. Can't wait for next year! - Konstantin Kisin, co-host of the TRIGGERnometry Podcast

A tremendous opportunity for people from all walks of life to debate the biggest issues of our day - vigorously and with intellectual aplomb. Freedom to speak one's Mind is not just allowed but positively promoted! - Shahrar Ali, former deputy leader and home affairs spokesperson, Green Party; author, Why Vote Green 2015

So come along; get the word out to friends, family, colleagues and anyone you know with an open mind. And, in defiance of the official attempts at policing us all on social media, you can now find us on not just Twitter/X but Instagram, Facebook and even TikTok.  

See you in October, if not before.