Are there no safe spaces for free speech left in Britain?

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Graham Linehan — the Irish comedy writer and producer of Father Ted, The IT Crowd, Black Books among other classics of the genre — has become used to being cancelled.

Graham was most recently blackballed at the Edinburgh Fringe in August after becoming a hate figure for trans activists. It was, nonetheless, surprising that the Conservative Party almost denied him the opportunity to appear at the ThinkTent, our marquee at party conference jointly hosted by the IEA and the Taxpayers Alliance (TPA).

Somewhat ironically, he was invited to speak on a panel discussing ‘Is Britain a safe space for free speech?’. But a few weeks ago, Linehan received an email saying a pass would not be issued after ‘approval has not been granted by Greater Manchester Police.’ Unless it transpires that he is in fact closely connected to an international terrorist network or an asset for, say, the Chinese intelligence service, how on earth can this rejection be justified? This is precisely what I warned about ([link removed]) in a paper from the IEA we released just a few weeks ago. Ultimately, following representations from the IEA, the Conservative Party reversed the initial decision to reject the pass.

Reinstated… Be sure to join us at Think Tent on Sunday, 2nd October (4.30pm) to hear Graham’s thoughts on whether the UK is still a safe space for free speech as part of a star-studded panel.

It appears most likely that Linehan was flagged up by the process because of complaints made to police in relation to his outspoken opposition to Transgender Ideology (though obviously not the right of individuals to identify how ever they wish). This entire situation is deeply concerning.

As our Director-General Mark Littlewood told Guido Fawkes ([link removed]) :

“It’s extraordinary that even the Conservatives came within a whisker of banning a well-known comedian from speaking on a panel about free speech at a party conference. This shows just how deeply cancel culture has permeated institutions across our society. We’re grateful that the Conservatives swiftly u-turned on their initial decision, but they clearly need to review processes so this doesn’t happen to anyone else. There are also serious questions for the police, who are continuing to keep records on individuals who have committed no crime over their entirely legal speech.”

GMP, like most police forces, are affiliated with Stonewall, the LGBT Foundation and a range of other political groups who define the expression of transgender-sceptical beliefs as in and of themselves ‘hateful’. Previous reports indicated that 120,000 people have a ‘Non Crime Hate Incident’ recorded with the police, often for trivial matters. A woman in Hebden Bridge was recently visited by the West Yorkshire Constabulary after taking a photo of a sticker defining a woman as an adult female that had been placed over a pro-trans sign. She was told not to pass on the image to anyone as this would constitute a hateful act.

The police are in danger of transforming themselves into a politically partisan organisation. My suspicion is that the attempted banning of Graham Linehan is yet another example of this sinister trend.

Marc Glendening

IEA Head of Cultural Affairs


** Nanny state strikes again
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This week, The Telegraph reported ([link removed]) that the government is planning to outlaw disposable e-cigarettes because of concern that they are being marketed towards children. The Nanny State Index 2023 ([link removed]) was grim reading for those who care about lifestyle freedom in the UK. The one silver lining was the government’s relaxed approach to vaping, informed by strong evidence that e-cigarettes are one of the most effective ways to encourage smokers to quit.

With the government’s evidenced-based vaping policy set to fall by the wayside, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon sprung into action, criticising the proposal ([link removed]) for restricting adults’ access to ‘life saving’ products.
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** Vape Ban Is Killer ([link removed])
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Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon, The Sun ([link removed]) , The Daily Mirror ([link removed]) , The Daily Mail ([link removed]) , and Guido Fawkes ([link removed])

State of exception… It is already illegal to sell e-cigarettes to those under the age of 18. If we don’t ban vodka, cigarettes, or 18-rated films, why ban disposable vapes?

Legislating, not governing… Christopher discussed the proposed ban on talkTV, arguing that the government should enforce the laws already on the books rather than piling on overzealous legislation.
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The best is the enemy of the good… Director General Mark Littlewood also criticised the ban on GB News, highlighting that only 0.09 per cent of secondary school children vape, but have never smoked.

IEA Latest.
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** Government loses vote on ‘nutrient neutrality’ reforms ([link removed])
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Director of Public Policy and Communications Matthew Lesh, BBC Radio 2

Blockers beat the builders… This week, the government lost a vote to relax nutrient neutrality red tape to enable over 100,000 homes to be built. These rules are worsening the housing crisis for practically no environmental gain, as new homes are responsible for only a small amount of sedimentary pollution in Britain’s waterways.
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** Labour’s plan to beef up union power ([link removed])
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Director General Mark Littlewood, talkTV

No free lunch… Everybody wants higher wages and better working conditions, but boosting productivity is the key to getting there.
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** The Truth About The Gender Pay Gap | Breaking Barriers ([link removed])
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Communications Officer and Linda Whetstone Scholar Reem Ibrahim and Telegraph Deputy Comment Editor Annabel Denham, IEA Youtube ([link removed])

Mind the gap… Is the gender pay gap an example of continuing systematic discrimination or the product of faulty methodologies which don’t account for personal choice?
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Inflation tax: inappropriate impractical and ineffective ([link removed])

Economics Fellow Julian Jessop, Financial Times ([link removed])

Leave markets alone… Trying to tax inflation out of the economy is a fool’s errand. Firms and workers will always find ways to dodge tax by dishing out bonuses and government bureaucracy is costly. Just let supply and demand function.
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** Sweden: Road to Socialism... and back? ([link removed])
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Communications Officer Harrison Griffiths and Head of Political Economy Kristian Niemietz, IEA YouTube ([link removed])

A Socialist’s paradise… Sweden’s economy has been hailed as the exemplar of socialism done right. But when we look at the facts, Sweden is far from a Socialist utopia.
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** Podcast: Can European free movement survive? ([link removed])
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Director of Public Policy and Communications Matthew Lesh and Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy Senior Research Fellow Emmanuel Comte, IEA YouTube ([link removed])

Crisis beckons… As intra-European Union relations continue to sour over the settlement of new refugees, could freedom of movement be on borrowed time?
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Sunak's plan to save £600m condemned as ‘betrayal’ of pledge to pensioners ([link removed])

Editorial and Research Fellow Len Shackleton, Daily Express ([link removed])

Pension conundrum… With wage growth outpacing inflation for the first time in 18 months, it could be time for the government to suspend the triple lock to avoid another fiscal black hole.
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Encouraging population decline is pure defeatism ([link removed])

Director of Public Policy and Communications Matthew Lesh, CapX

Capitulating to managed decline… A research paper ([link removed]) argued that population decline could boost living standards by relieving pressure on public services and infrastructure. But the UK’s inability to expand its capacity is a policy choice, not a preordained truth — shrinking our population would only make things worse.

IEA Insider.


** ThinkTent 2023
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A stellar lineup… Our full slate of events for ThinkTent at Conservative Party Conference has been confirmed.

Kicking off on Sunday 1st October, Director General Mark Littlewood will chair a discussion on kickstarting economic growth and Head of Cultural Affairs Marc Glendening will contribute to a panel asking whether the UK is still a safe space for free speech.

On the morning of Monday 2nd October, Communications Officer Reem Ibrahim will chair a discussion on whether intergeneration inequality is holding Britain back.

In the afternoon, Director General Mark Littlewood will moderate a panel on the future of British rail.

Day two will conclude with Director of Public Policy and Communications Matthew Lesh assuming the chair for a discussion on improving the UK’s health service before Reem Ibrahim chairs a battle of the think tanks, where free market policy wonks go head-to-head on immigration.

The final day of this year’s ThinkTent will be chaired by Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon. The panel will discuss the nanny state’s ever-expanding threat to consumer choice.

On the afternoon of Tuesday 3rd October, Matthew Lesh will be back in the hot seat, presiding over a wide ranging conversation on the future of British journalism.

For our final panel event, Senior Policy Advisor to the Director General Sam Collins and Director of Strategy Alex Morton will be part of a panel asking whether there really is a Whitehall blob standing in the way of much-needed reforms.

We are also looking forward to welcoming Lord Frost for this year’s ‘In conversation with…’ event. Mark Littlewood will host the conversation along with Taxpayers’ Alliance Chief Executive John O’Connell.

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