Fighting back: Inside the Lords at Christmas

From protests to strikes, staying humble, and why YOUR support is so crucial for 2023

So, Christmas is almost upon us and I am reflecting on what has been an exhilarating roller coaster of a year. Frustrating, sometimes exciting, many challenges, definitely exhausting – never dull. And a gathering sense that ‘Enough is Enough’ and it’s time to take matters into our own hands.

What we can say is that the public are less than happy with the mess the political establishment continues to make of the enormous issues society faces. But while disillusion with the mainstream – whether parties or the media – deepens, it is good to see that, in all sorts of ways, many refuse to passively accept the status quo. From the growing gender critical movement challenging trans ideology to the campaigners such as Don’t Divide Us tackling the imposition of divisive CRT in schools, people are gathering together and finding ways to fight back.

In that context, with strikes dominating the news in the UK, it is hard not to reflect a little on both the scale of the economic challenges facing the UK and the huge hurdles we face in asserting our political power. I know many of you have, to put it mildly, mixed feelings on the strikes - and, God knows, Mick Lynch is certainly capable of saying some annoying things. But whatever you feel about the strikes going on right now, the RIGHT to strike is a supremely important one. It is one of the major tools that working people have to force those in power to listen to them.

The government continues to suggest that it will introduce powers to curtail this key right. I would really recommend that you sign Enough is Enough’s petition on this topic and show your support for the right to strike.

But despite the challenges, this year has seen a variety of organisations go from strength to strength - I send my warmest thanks and a load of Christmas cheer to Living Freedom, the Free Speech Union, Sex Matters, Free Speech Champions, LGB Alliance, and Together among others.

Another organisation who need some special support right now are For Women Scotland. The Scottish Parliament’s vote to allow people as young as 16 to change their gender on their birth certificates represents a serious and fundamental challenge not just to the rights of women but also to some of the foundational concepts of private life. This is sure to be a huge area of controversy in the coming weeks both on its own terms and as a part of an attempt to reignite support for Scottish Independence. We will all need to hone our arguments and offer solidarity to those, like For Women Scotland, fighting this.

But this is the fundamental point I want US ALL to think about over the Christmas period: solidarity. We will have a huge array of challenges in the New Year - around free speech, around living standards and the economy, about the green agenda and energy, and the still fundamental need to take back control of public life. Solidarity in this context means the bravery to stand up for some fundamental principles, it means offering support to organisations and individuals who stick their head above the parapet, and it means really having the best possible arguments and ideas to beat the culture war. It means being prepared to think out loud and dig deep into issues (something I tried to do in this filmed conversation with Dr Anna Loutfi from The Bad Law Project). As ever, we will be taking up these challenges at the annual Battle of Ideas festival festival which draws people from all ages and political and social backgrounds – it’s a chance to talk openly with each other and exchange views.

Standing up for fundamental principles, supporting those putting their head above the parapet, and making a space for deeper thinking and passionate arguments - this is what we do at Academy of Ideas. We will continue to do this with gusto into 2023. If you support what we do we’d truly appreciate it if you supported us financially. You can sign up as a paid subscriber to this Substack, you can take out a subscription to Letters on Liberty, or you can simply make a donation to us here.

Every penny will help us defend free speech, extend democracy and beat the culture war.

Here’s to a freedom-filled 2023! Merry Christmas!