Suella Braverman has been speaking at a National Conservatism conference in Brussels on 16th April.
Others down to speak are from the European far right including Orban and Zemmour, while Britain is also represented by Farage, Miriam Cates, Melanie Philips, Matthew Goodwin, Mick Hume and Frank Furedi who is one of the leaders of Orban’s fan club (and funded to be).
The Mayor of Brussels attempted to ban the conference and despatched police to do so. The far right needs opposing politically not administratively, although the action of the Mayor appears to have been influenced by protests in this case.
The kind of ideas Braverman is promoting won’t be defeated by bans however configured. Shutting such an event down by virtue of a mass protest is different to ordering it closed. In this case there clearly was a mobilisation and protest by Belgian anti-fascist groups which may well have influenced the Mayor’s decision. As often reality is messy.
Even so it is concerning in the context of a growing authoritarian trend across Europe with German police shutting down a Palestinian Conference a few days ago.
Authority determining who can and more particularly can’t speak never ends well for the left. If Braverman was still Home Secretary, as she was until six months ago,banning political events she did not agree with would be very high on her agenda
In the meantime what exactly is Sunak doing about Braverman appearing at such an event? Despite the fact that he held a short notice Friday evening press conference at Downing St a few weeks back complaining about the impact of extreme politics- of which this conference is an example- he has expressed concern at the actions of the Belgian authorities. Braverman who one might have thought should have been in the Commons today got a free pass from Sunak
More detail on opposition to the event
Kmflett's Blog 
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