@dmgbin@DebatingMatters tournament final. A fun, engaged & serious atmosphere throughout two & half hours of debate & deliberation! “Restricting hate speech is more important than protecting freedom of speech” Debate the winner. Champions @OPGSchool runners up @NavrachanaS
On the Sikh knife/kirpan issue, a confident society can make small exemptions to general rules to accommodate religious/ethnic minorities only when
1) The exemption itself is small
2) The exemption isn’t indicative of a wider culture of double standards
The murder of Henry Nowak suggests both of these can no longer be maintained.
1) I distinctly remember learning in school about the Kirpan exemption and how Sikhs might carry a small decorative jewellery knife.
Carrying enormous cleavers or even swords is clearly not a workable “minor exemption” to general rules on carrying knives.
2) The reaction of the police demonstrates precisely that there is a dangerous two
-tier culture of double standards applied to ethnic/ religious minorities. If the Police’s reaction to a bleeding man is to arrest him for racism, then quite clearly the police are more concerned about the feelings of minorities than the safety of the general public, which is completely unsustainable as a social contract.
The end result of this is something that will be uncomfortable for many liberally-inclined people: many of the accommodations made for minority groups may no longer be able to be sustained as a matter of social cohesion.
A publicly-minded government would relentlessly root out all indications of a two-tier approach to minority issues, as the condition of returning the tolerance which marked British society for some time.
‘There is an institutional acceptance by many people who work in public services that there is a hierarchy of victimhood!’
Independent peer Baroness Clair Fox gives a damning assessment of two-tier policing in Britain.
🎄Looking for a perfect gift or stocking filler for political friends & family?
Look no further than the @acadofideas bookshop - great books at great prices & booklets from our Letters on Liberty series too!!📚⤵️
https://t.co/4QCpu6zYQG
🍂Yes, we're busy with our autumn programme but...
...we're also planning an exciting spring programme too! 🌷
Please get in touch if you're a school interested in #Debating & don't forget ANY school pupil can take advantage of this great #BattleFest ticket offer... 👀⤵️
Ella Whelan on women's choice at #BATTLEFEST
At this year's Battle we ask: From menopause and maternity to the gender wars, what do women need to be free?
Read more about our strand on women's freedom and get your tickets: https://t.co/Q6wQo8ydpp
🎉Debating Matters at the Battle of Ideas festival 🎉
🗓️19 & 20 Oct
🏙️Westminster
Come & see us debate #Smartphones should be banned in the classroom & enjoy the whole festival with this special Free Schools Champion offer😍
Pls RT
https://t.co/wh734wovlO
And we’re off! A day of debate begins at @durhamunion with six schools battling for the DM championship.
We’ll be debating a range of issues from assisted dying, corporate sponsorship of the arts and AI to whether populism is a threat to democracy. Let the debates begin!
Too right. The ICC is a political institution that caters to the interests of NGOland. In truth it should be called an International Kangaroo court. My apology to Kangaroos for besmirching their name.
https://t.co/ifCLfV1ESN
The toughest 6th Form debating competition is back at @durhamunion
Very good of @KonstantinKisin to be our warm up act! 😉
Come along & see schools from across the NE battle it out in a day of robust but civil debate.
Info👉https://t.co/6GOGtFuAia
After a brilliant day of debate last Friday, The Ecclesbourne School beat three other excellent schools - @CNCSOfficial, @Gill_School & Gosforth Academy - to be crowned @DebatingMatters House of Lords Champions 2024. https://t.co/RePVrZi7ho
'There is no substitute for debating an issue to help you clearly understand what you think, and to reflect upon your own ideas by being open to new information and viewpoints'
Debating Matters House of Lords Champions 2024 @Fox_Claire@M0L0VATT https://t.co/kOJ3wYMAxJ
Loved being back in the chair for @DebatingMatters at @UKHouseofLords this month. Fantastic debates, tough but fair judges & students rising to the occasion in splendid surroundings.
I've written about the day for @Fox_Claire's substack ⤵️
https://t.co/RCYEPOEkFB
Thank you to our partners & prize sponsors who made Debating Matters at the House of Lords 2024 such a momentous day!
@prospect_uk Hodder Education @acadofideas@UKHouseofLords
Find out more about our partners & how you can support DM here ⤵️
https://t.co/kjN5JD6QK0
Solidarity with @UnleashedComedy & @Glinner from all of us👊
More festivals need to join us & stand up for freedom of expression🗣️
Come to Battle of Ideas festival this 28 & 29 Oct where no-one is cancelled & Graham Linehan is always welcome!
Tix 👉 https://t.co/vllrZRXctT
Cried when I read this. Hate that destructive phrase "teachable moment" used against Richard Bilkszto. Ironically, tragic fate of this educator should be a "teachable moment" for those of us anti-racists who understand callous way that EDI industry carelessly destroys reputations
And they're right to slam it. #OnlineSafetyBill starts final stages in Lords tomorrow. It really is a huge threat to YOUR right to privacy & to free speech. Myself & @danielmgmoylan will oppose most censorious sections but the louder the clamour outside parliament, the better.
🗣️DM is coming back to Durham
This year we're @durhamunion & we can't wait! 🎉
✔️schools are preparing
✔️judges have been recruited
✔️final plans are being made...
Send us a message if you'd like to come along - it promises to be a great day of debate🎊