'Demonised and banned!' Frank Furedi launches blistering attack on those silencing free speech and two-tier Britain

Academic sociologist Frank Furedi made a blistering attack on those attempting to stifle honest debate on these issues during a panel discussion about the state of democracy at the Battle of Ideas festival.

In her opening remarks, moderator Baroness Claire Fox warned citizens are being "shunned and labelled as beyond democratic engagement" and condemned efforts by European elites to "demonise and ban populist parties".

Baroness Fox then put the following question to the panel: "Can democracy survive these attacks?"

Academic sociologist Frank Furedi sought to reframe the debate, citing examples of how so-called "divisive issues" are a sign that democracy is working.

The author of The War Against the Past: Why the West Must Fight for its History, cites the electoral upset on July 4, which saw insurgent party Reform UK make inroads.

The vote for Brexit, he says, was a "liberating impulse, a transcendence from the rigid, static status quo".

"Populism and divisive go hand in hand. Athens was an argumentative society. Being divisive is a good thing," he said.

There is work to be done, however.

Mr Furedi explained: "We need to challenge the language being used - if you don't vote for a mainstream party it's a protest vote as if that's a morally inferior position. In fact, it's a brave decision - people do not want more of the same."

The political class is "incompetent" and doesn't get it, he fumes, citing two-tier policing as a prime example.

"Let everyone have their voice and let a thousand flowers bloom. Embrace polarisation," the sociologist said.

His comments come after rioters took to the streets in response to the murder of three children in a stabbing attack at a dance class in Southport on July 29.

The wave of unrest that followed sparked accusations that Britain's justice system was running a "two-tier" approach after a judge called for harsher sentences for the Southport rioters, some of whom have never had a criminal record.

Julie Sweeney, a 53-year-old carer from Cheshire is serving almost two years behind bars after suggesting in a Facebook post to "blow the mosque up with the adults in it".

Meanwhile, Gabriel Abdullah, 34, who brandished a knife outside a kosher supermarket in Golders Green and shouted antisemitic abuse at staff, was handed a suspended sentence by a judge in June.

Sir Keir has dismissed claims that we now have a system of “two-tier policing”. Likewise, Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley has rejected the accusation as “complete nonsense”, adding that those making the claims were putting officers at risk.