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Rishi Sunak Declares War on Woke – Appoints ‘Free Speech Tsar’

by Toby Young
15 January 2023 7:00 AM

According to this morning’s Mail on Sunday, the Prime Minister has declared war on woke!

Rishi Sunak is set to declare a new ‘war on woke’ by appointing a free speech watchdog and more closely vetting the appointment of Left-wing bishops, the Mail on Sunday understands.

A ‘free speech tsar’, with the power to investigate universities which censure academics for their views, is expected to be announced shortly by the Prime Minister.

Whitehall sources say that the favourite is Arif Ahmed, a Cambridge professor who has spoken out against the ‘cancel culture’ on campuses.

The move comes as Mr. Sunak is also understood to have instructed officials to perform ‘more due diligence’ on bishops before they are appointed, following their outspoken criticism of Government policy.

Earlier this month, No 10 announced that Philip North would become the next Bishop of Blackburn. He had been forced to withdraw from previous nominations following complaints about his opposition to women priests.

The new front in the so-called ‘culture wars’ is being driven by Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, Cabinet Minister and Sunak ally Oliver Dowden and by powerful figures within Downing Street.

During last summer’s leadership contest, Mr. Sunak promised to tackle the “woke nonsense”^ he claimed was permeating public life.

The moves are likely to partially reassure Tory MPs on the Right of the party concerned about what they regard as a Leftward drift through policies such as the ditching of the privatisation of Channel 4,

Prof Ahmed, a philosophy lecturer at Gonville & Caius College, recently sparked a backlash from students for inviting Helen Joyce, a feminist, to speak about her book, Trans, which criticises aspects of trans activism.

The academic is regarded by No 10 as someone who will be able to stand up to woke students and academics who have been described by one commentator as the “statue-smashing, history-erasing thought police”, although Downing Street stressed that other candidates were also being considered.

Worth reading in full – and as an added bonus I’ve written a short comment piece for the Mail on Sunday to accompany this news (just scroll down to see it).

Stop Press: Read the Mail on Sunday’s leader on why we should defend free speech with all our might.

Tags: Arif AhmedBishop of BlackburnFree Speech TsarWar on Woke

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38 Comments
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huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
10 months ago

https://order-order.com/2024/07/03/independent-inquiry-launched-into-channel-4-reform-report/

I posted this yesterday from TCW. The credit belongs to Kathy Gyngell.

Do keep up.

30
-1
stewart
stewart
10 months ago

I hope that all those who went out to vote hoping that a sea change was coming feel suitably foolish.

The system is rigged in so many ways. The distorted representation of votes in parliament, the media assault on anyone that might be a threat to the establishment, the gaslighting making people think that this freak show we call elections represents their actual views and wishes.

Thing will only actually change in a meaningful way when enough people get tired of being suckered, say enough is enough and refuse to play the rigged game.

56
-6
Monro
Monro
10 months ago
Reply to  stewart

Labour 33.8% of the vote share

54% turn out

46.5m eligible to vote out of a population of 67m

69.4% of the population eligible to vote

0.694 x 0.54 x 0.338

Just 12.7% of the population voted for this government.

Time long overdue for PR

33
0
Norfolk-Sceptic
Norfolk-Sceptic
10 months ago
Reply to  Monro

There are many varieties of PR, so you do need to specify which you prefer, and why.

For example, party lists only encourage central control, which has caused much dysfunctionality already. Multiple members for each constituency means muddled responsibility.

And, given that European countries have very different means of electing representatives, yet all have had their problems, there is much to be said for some thinking rather than unspecific soundbites.

0
0
Free Lemming
Free Lemming
10 months ago
Reply to  stewart

Well said. Whenever I try to say exactly the same thing I get hammered on the downvotes, but your same point has been well received. An indication of the fluidity, and easily managed, of many?

3
-1
Monro
Monro
10 months ago

We see clearly the next task.

Scotland, Wales, London show us what is in store for us all.

The demolition of Labour……we’ll have to get them before they get us……

Last edited 10 months ago by Monro
40
-4
Monro
Monro
10 months ago
Reply to  Monro

Two thirds of the country did not vote for this (big majority of seats) government.

Time for PR.

45
-1
Norfolk-Sceptic
Norfolk-Sceptic
10 months ago
Reply to  Monro

As I already said on this thread, you need to specify which type of PR.

0
0
For a fist full of roubles
For a fist full of roubles
10 months ago
Reply to  Monro

Wales clearly likes socialism as they have booted out the Tories. So let us all look forward the an NHS Welsh style.

13
0
Lockdown Sceptic
Lockdown Sceptic
10 months ago

Jet Set Climate Activists Kill Freedom – latest leaflet to print at home and deliver to neighbours or forward to politicians, your local vicar, online media and friends online. We have over 200 leaflet ideas on the link on the leaflet.

01a-Jet-Set-Climate-Activists-Kill-Freedom-MONOCHROME-copy
29
-1
Freecumbria
Freecumbria
10 months ago

Based on declared seats Reform have the third highest share of the vote. And labour share of the vote is only just above one third.

Vote-vs-seats
27
0
Baldrick
Baldrick
10 months ago

Noticed that Chris Chope got back in for Christchurch. I think he was one of the good guys. Andrew Bridgen has failed for NW Leicestershire- by a long way as well.

38
0
Valerie_London
Valerie_London
10 months ago
Reply to  Baldrick

He was one of the few good guys – constantly trying to highlight the plight of the vaccine injured in the HoC.

38
0
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
10 months ago
Reply to  Valerie_London

The people of Leicester NW deserve all the shyte that Kneel and Co can throw at them.

What a vile electorate.

16
0
Norfolk-Sceptic
Norfolk-Sceptic
10 months ago
Reply to  huxleypiggles

It’s as though Andrew is worse than an inconvenience.

I’m shocked, truly shocked, telI you! 🙂

1
0
JohnK
JohnK
10 months ago

The https://www.midwesterndoctor.com/p/dermatologys-horrendous-war-against was worth a read, but in the “Benefits of sunlight” section it is silent about one of the fundamental ones. I.e. the way we use Ultra Violet-B to make vitamin D. Perhaps the author has shares in the manufacture of supplements, a cynic might observe!

9
-5
For a fist full of roubles
For a fist full of roubles
10 months ago

If the Tories could do this after winning an 80 seat majority last time, just think what Labour will achieve in 5 years with double the majority.

20
0
Norfolk-Sceptic
Norfolk-Sceptic
10 months ago
Reply to  For a fist full of roubles

How many extra windmills will Labour manage to plan, build, and put into production before they get found out?

And then there’s the miles of Power Lines, acres of solar panels and Carbon Capture & Storage installations that fail.

I do have a good idea on the number of CC&S successes.

0
0
Heretic
Heretic
10 months ago

So Reform won 14% of the popular vote, and got 4 seats in Parliament.

LibDems won 12% of the popular vote, and got 63 seats in Parliament.

Errrr, yes, that seems fair…

39
0
Jon Garvey
Jon Garvey
10 months ago
Reply to  Heretic

And the Greens got around half the Reform vote, but the same number of seats.

18
0
For a fist full of roubles
For a fist full of roubles
10 months ago
Reply to  Heretic

This election is the first chance that Reform have had to judge where their support lies on national issues. In their next election they will be able to crunch the numbers and build funding to allow then the target resources for best effect.

14
-1

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