Buxton Battle of Ideas festival

The Battle of Ideas festival is back – and coming to Buxton for the first time! Given the events of the past year and a half, there is a huge need to discuss the state of the world and the wide variety of issues that face us right now. After a great #BattleFest weekend in Westminster, we can’t wait to ignite public debate in Buxton.

There is so much we need to discuss. At Buxton, we’ll be asking how to respond to the ‘new normal’ – whether we should resist it or welcome it; we’ll be tackling the post-pandemic economy – and asking if the government’s promises of ‘levelling up’ are just all hot air; we’ll also be debating cancel culture – whether it is a myth or a stranglehold on free speech; and we’ll also be tackling the green debate – discussing if net zero is an necessity or a new form of austerity. We’ll also have discussions on electric cars, the future of The Union, culture wars and the place of China in the world. 

In each debate, we’ll aim to challenge today’s toxic political environment with a broad and diverse range of speakers and perspectives. Everyone – speakers, chairs and audience members – will arrive with the aim of reflecting constructively on the big issues, to dig beneath the headlines, soundbites and memes. The festival is an antidote to echo chambers and ‘intellectual silos’, a unique opportunity to bring different points of view together and challenge each other’s ideas.