Saturday 17 October, 9.30 until 9.50, Free Stage, Barbican Festival Attractions
The eleventh annual Battle of Ideas festival will open with a Welcome Address hosted by Claire Fox, director of the Academy of Ideas and special guest speaker Mick Hume, author of Trigger Warning: Is the Fear of Being Offensive Killing Free Speech?
Why the Battle of Ideas 2015?
In advance of the weekend at the Barbican, Claire Fox introduces the themes of the festival here.
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Mick Hume
editor-at-large, online magazine spiked; author, Trigger Warning: Is the Fear of Being Offensive Killing Free Speech? |
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Leonora Thomson
director of audiences and development, Barbican Centre |
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Claire Fox
director, Academy of Ideas; panellist, BBC Radio 4's Moral Maze; author, I Find That Offensive |

Should we be allowed to say anything? What about hate speech? Do complaints about verbal cruelty patronise and insult? Yes, but …
Galen Strawson, Guardian, 28 August 2015
A chilling warning after feminists hound a Nobel winner from his job for 'sexism'
Mick Hume, Daily Mail, 20 June 2015
Qualifications to freedom of speech seemingly increase daily, made by people who would tell you they are unquestionably devoted to the concept of freedom of speech.
Rod Liddle, Sunday Times, 14 June 2015
Debating Matters' acclaimed Topic Guides place debates in a social context
Justine Brian, Debating Matters, 23 January 2015
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