Is the UK a safe space for free speech?

Hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs & the TaxPayers’ Alliance

Sunday, 1st October | 4.30pm – 5.30pm

With both legal and cultural censorship engulfing debate in the United Kingdom, can we still say that Britain is a safe space for free speech?

Speakers:

Elliot Keck, Head of campaigns, TaxPayers’ Alliance (Chair)

Elliot Keck joined the TaxPayers’ Alliance in January 2022 and is responsible for leading the campaigns team. He was previously investigations campaign manager with specific responsibility for the TPA’s War on Waste campaign.
Before the TPA, Elliot spent a period working in Parliament running the press and campaigns for a backbench MP, after a stint working for a think tank.
He has a master’s degree in International Politics from City, University of London and a BA in History and Politics from University of Birmingham. While at university he did a year abroad in Canada.

Marc Glendening, Head of cultural affairs, Institute of Economic Affairs

Marc is Head of cultural affairs at the Institute of Economic Affairs. Before that he worked for Policy Exchange focusing on freedom of speech related issues and the political implications of human rights law. In 2011 he co-founded as political director of the cross-party Democracy Movement, the People’s Pledge. This campaigned for a referendum on the question of EU membership and included politicians and others with contrary views on Brexit. Marc is honorary secretary of the Sohemian Society which is dedicated to the history and liberal values of Soho.

Matthew Goodwin, Professor of politics, University of Kent

Matt is an academic, bestselling author, pollster, and speaker known for his research on: politics, populism, elections, voting, public opinion, Brexit, Europe, academic freedom and more. He is Professor of Politics at Rutherford College, University of Kent, recently served as Senior Visiting Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, at Chatham House, Senior Fellow with the UK In a Changing Europe, Senior Fellow at the Legatum Institute, and Senior Advisor to the UK Education Committee. In 2022, Matt was appointed Social Mobility Commissioner.

Graham Linehan, Comedy writer and director

Graham is a comedy writer and director. His works include Father Ted, Black Books, and The IT Crowd.

Tim Stanley, Historian and journalist, Daily Telegraph

Tim is a historian, journalist and broadcaster. He writes a weekly column for the Daily Telegraph and is one of its leader writers. Tim got his PhD at Trinity College, Cambridge, specialising in US history, and has held fellowships at Sussex and Royal Holloway. Tim converted to Catholicism at the age of 23 and prefers to be called a traditionalist rather than a conservative