Katie Hopkins event cancelled

[MrC986]

I see in the news that a fully booked night of honest talking by Katie Hopkins has been cancelled by a local authority who own the venue where it was due to be held on the grounds of safety following consultation with the police....sadly free speech doesn't appear popular at the moment.

I guess the council in question didn't want an honest opinion on the state of UK politics and the Govt

[ScotHill]

Katie Hopkins is an absolute ct of a human being so the council can do what they want as far as I’m concerned. Maybe they were worried about potential injury from broken glass as presumably everyone in the audience would have to watch her via her reflection in a mirror for fear of being turned to stone.

[911Spanker]

MrC986 said:

I see in the news that a fully booked night of honest talking by Katie Hopkins has been cancelled by a local authority who own the venue where it was due to be held on the grounds of safety following consultation with the police....sadly free speech doesn't appear popular at the moment.

I guess the council in question didn't want an honest opinion on the state of UK politics and the Govt

People talk about "free speech" when in reality it is just causing division and hatred.

No idea who would go to see such a thing.

[Murph7355]

Having consulted the police, had they gone ahead and it had kicked off, people would be whinging in 20 other ways.

Maybe the cost of policing it and insurance against damage was too much for her.

[Baroque attacks]

911Spanker said:

People talk about "free speech" when in reality it is just causing division and hatred.

No idea who would go to see such a thing.

But it’s their flavor of free speech

[chrispmartha]

Remember when she won that award?

Campaign to Unify the Nation Trophy

;-)

[Terminator X]

911Spanker said:

MrC986 said:

I see in the news that a fully booked night of honest talking by Katie Hopkins has been cancelled by a local authority who own the venue where it was due to be held on the grounds of safety following consultation with the police....sadly free speech doesn't appear popular at the moment.

I guess the council in question didn't want an honest opinion on the state of UK politics and the Govt

People talk about "free speech" when in reality it is just causing division and hatred.

No idea who would go to see such a thing.

Sad day if you're happy for councils to be cancelling events "just in case". I assume adults had bought tickets as they should be free to do.

TX.

[Blue62]

MrC986 said:

I see in the news that a fully booked night of honest talking by Katie Hopkins has been cancelled by a local authority who own the venue where it was due to be held on the grounds of safety following consultation with the police....sadly free speech doesn't appear popular at the moment.

I guess the council in question didn't want an honest opinion on the state of UK politics and the Govt

Honest talking and honest opinion? I’m not sure you understand what you’re posting there, but the point about free speech is the issue. Do we allow the likes of Hopkins, Fox, Vylan, Kneecap to peddle their stuff or not? Strikes me you can’t choose a side in that debate if you want to play the free speech card.

Funny that you think Hopkins is honest or somehow speaks the truth, maybe you don’t care.

[MrBogSmith]

Hardly a free speech issue.

She can stream to the ticket holders / find a privately owned venue that has the risk appetite / happy to manage the protests etc.

[JuanCarlosFandango]

Wrong sort of free speech.

[pghstochaj]

MrC986 said:

I see in the news that a fully booked night of honest talking by Katie Hopkins has been cancelled by a local authority who own the venue where it was due to be held on the grounds of safety following consultation with the police....sadly free speech doesn't appear popular at the moment.

I guess the council in question didn't want an honest opinion on the state of UK politics and the Govt

The actual quotation is below:

Rugby Borough Council said concerns were raised about the stand-up tour coming to the town and it made the decision after taking advice from Warwickshire Police.

A spokesperson said: "The Benn Hall is primarily a family venue with many community events and activities from musical shows to antiques fairs.

"We want to support all our communities and their interests with safe, fun activities that everyone can enjoy.

"We are aware of a planned protest on the evening of the performance with significant numbers of individuals and organisations indicating their intention to attend.

"Because we are responsible for event safety and cannot guarantee the safety of ticket holders or protesters, we have cancelled the booking.

"We understand the depth of feeling this matter has invoked. We will review the Benn Hall booking policy and debate it at a forthcoming meeting of the council."

[Mr MXT]

It’s not free speech, it was £12 a ticket!

[MrC986]

I'm all for a seceny free speech as when we were younger we were encouraged to debate things. She certainly offers a different opinion, but regardless, it seems our opinions, the ability to answer questions honestly and ownership when making errors of judgement seems to becoming a more and more scarce.

No wonder comedians who observe society and day to day attitudes and express their opinions as part of humour are becoming more worried about their future livelihoods.

[JoshSm]

I've got zero time for her opinions and have no idea why anyone would want to hear her spout them.

On the other hand I'm not going to pretend it's acceptable that an event appears to be cancelled due to an apparent threat of violent disorder; people who do that are s too and it's never a good thing to yield to them.

The free speech thing isn't something I'm worried about here, freedom of speech does not include the right to a platform to talk from.

*BUT* I don't think yielding to the possibility of a violent mob is any more acceptable here than it would be if it was camped outside a hotel shouting at migrants to leave.

[MrC986]

I'm all for a decent amount of free speech as when I was younger we were encouraged to debate thing as part of growing up and helping us appreciate other people's points ot view. She offers a different opinion and I don't agree with some of the people she supports/advocates, but regardless, it seems our opinions; the ability to answer questions honestly and ownership when making errors of judgement in work land life in general seems to becoming more and more scarce.

No wonder comedians who observe society and day to day attitudes and express their opinions as part of humour are becoming more worried about their future livelihoods.

[JuanCarlosFandango]

MrBogSmith said:

Hardly a free speech issue.

She can stream to the ticket holders / find a privately owned venue that has the risk appetite / happy to manage the protests etc.

I don't know if that's not even worse. Are the council and police really saying they can't keep sufficient order to allow a fairly small comedy show to go ahead? In Rugby? And on what basis? Have there been a spate of riots outside these events elsewhere? Credible threats to cause serious harm, that can't possibly be dealt with? Does that make it a no go zone?

[JuanCarlosFandango]

JoshSm said:

I
The free speech thing isn't something I'm worried about here, freedom of speech does not include the right to a platform to talk from.

It sort of does. Everyone is free to say what they want alone in their bedroom at 2am. For free speech to have any utility you need to be able to actually say things in public. Publicly owned venues like that should be politically neutral, and it is just about the primary purpose of the state to protect people from violence. Here some petty local official has decided that either the state has failed so drastically that it can't keep order in this fairly unremarkable midlands town, or that they are fit to decide what speech is and is not acceptable in a venue they don't own but are entrusted to manage for the good of all of the public.

The Soviet Union had free speech. In theory.

[Timothy Bucktu]

ScotHill said:

Katie Hopkins is an absolute ct of a human being so the council can do what they want as far as I m concerned. Maybe they were worried about potential injury from broken glass as presumably everyone in the audience would have to watch her via her reflection in a mirror for fear of being turned to stone.

Lefties eh...so angry and full of hate.

[Vanden Saab]

Timothy Bucktu said:

ScotHill said:

Katie Hopkins is an absolute ct of a human being so the council can do what they want as far as I m concerned. Maybe they were worried about potential injury from broken glass as presumably everyone in the audience would have to watch her via her reflection in a mirror for fear of being turned to stone.

Lefties eh...so angry and full of hate.

Watch them screaming blue murder when people they agree with get cancelled because of the threat of violence. Anybody with any sense will see this happening and just know 'lessons are being learnt' on how to shut people they disagree with down.

[bstb3]

Rugby again? So soon after the Bilton school / Union Jack dress thing. I wonder if they were worried about some association from that situation bringing certain types to the affair - you can be sure Hopkins would be all over it.

Fwiw I'd rather they allowed it to go ahead. Have to tackle muppets like Hopkins openly in my opinion. Given the oxygen they will show themselves to be what they are, and if it's as bad as people think it's easily exposed. Far sooner that than force it off stage right, where it can fester and just more grist to the mill of different rules for some than others.