From NatCon to Berlin: free speech in Europe
The Podcast of Ideas returns with special guests from Brussels to discuss the attempts at political censorship in the heart of Europe.
Events in Brussels over the past week have reverberated around the world. The NatCon conference - hosting conservative speakers such as Viktor Orbán, Eric Zemmour, Suella Braverman MP and Miriam Cates MP - fought repeatedly with Brussels authorities who forced two venues to cancel their plans to host the event. But it became international news when police attempted to close down the event at a third venue, the music hall and wedding venue Claridge owned by a Tunisian businessman who became a free speech hero.
The videos of police arriving midway through a keynote address from Nigel Farage drew condemnation from world leaders - although not, it must be said, from any of the EU’s top dogs. This was more than a familiar story of left-leaning city officials working hand-in-hand with Antifa-type organisations trying to strangle free speech. In the run up to the European elections, European elites are obviously running scared of the predicted populist upswing.
We were delighted to be joined on the podcast this week by two Battle of Ideas regulars who have been at the heart of the action. John O’Brien, MCC Brussels’ head of communication, and Jacob Reynolds, MCC Brussels’ head of policy and AOI associate fellow, have been working flat out with event co-sponsors MCC to battle the repeated cancellations and pull off the event at the last hour. In the wake of the events, they have launched the Brussels Free Speech Declaration to ensure this doesn’t happen again, and to support venue owners to resist pressure from the authorities to cancel events.
They join the AOI team to discuss what went down in Brussels, what it means for European democracy, and also to reflect on another cancellation, the shutdown of a pro-Palestine conference in Berlin.
The group also take stock of Katherine Birbalsingh and Michaela School’s court victory in the wake of a student challenging a prayer ban the school implemented. What can the events at the school tell us about education, authority and religion? You can join the AOI’s education forum on Thursday 25 April to discuss this in more detail.
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Ryan Hoey will be discussing his Letter on Liberty at this year’s LIVING FREEDOM SUMMER SCHOOL.
LF’s three-day residential school takes place in London on 11 to 13 July and is open to anyone aged 18 to 30, regardless of whether you are based in the UK or beyond.
Anyone interested in getting to grips with issues of freedom and free speech is welcome to apply and we aim to bring together attendees with a wide range of interests and diverse views.
Attendees will hear talks from experts on the history and philosophy of freedom, including revisiting ideals and classic texts. You will have the chance to explore complex moral and ethical issues, debate contemporary hot topics and discuss the limits to freedom. There will be plenty of time to meet, network and socialise with speakers and your peers, as well as attending the annual Living Freedom dinner.
The cost of providing a place at the summer school is £500. This includes accommodation in central London and attending the annual Living Freedom dinner.
However, each attendee will pay just £50, a massive reduction of £450.
This is because Living Freedom uses a targeted scholarships programme funded by our donors and partners, which will ensure that we can select attendees on merit, irrespective of their financial circumstances.