‘No surrender!’ Brussels conference organisers ‘defiant’ after mayor shuts down Farage event

“The businessman who runs the venue that was shut down today is very friendly to us, he will do whatever he can to make sure we can return tomorrow.

“If that fails, we have a backup option, a plan B at a smaller venue. The event will go ahead regardless, unless we are arrested.”

The event at the Belgian capital saw political heavyweights such as Nigel Farage and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman in attendance.

NatCon had aimed to bring together voices from across Europe to share their views on the continent’s future amid a turbulent political outlook.

However, once Mr Farage started to address the crowd, the conference was informed that a Brussels district mayor had ordered organisers end the event within 15 minutes.

Dr Furedi said that “the mood is defiant. The feeling is ‘no surrender.’ We are buzzing with excitement but pissed off.”

The organisers’ defiance against the threat of further police action comes after Emir Kir, the district mayor of the Saint-Josse-ten-Noode area in Brussels, issued an order to ban the conference “to guarantee public safety.”

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Kir added: “In Etterbeek, in Brussels City and in Saint-Josse, the far-right is not welcome.”

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The district mayor’s intervention followed coverage from the Brussels Times, which reported that “anti-fascist” protesters were set to arrive at the venue after demanding that the event was called off.

“By trying to ban us, this mayor has promoted us and our event,” said Dr Furedi, adding: “The downside is that it could create a precedent, I’m worried that this becomes the norm and future conservative conferences are in trouble.”

The think tank director continued: “This censorship crisis is a major issue in Brussels and the Belgian political system. The left-wing establishment here is petrified of the upcoming elections.”

Referring to a key speaker at the NatCon event, he said: “They also fear Viktor Orban and Hungary and want to do their best to sabotage his government.

“I want people to vote for freedom and vote to get rid of this mayor who wants to shut down political conferences in Brussels.”

During his speech, Nigel Farage said: “I’ve heard the police are very eager to close us down, so they can close it down with me on stage.”

Farage slammed the decision to close the conference as “monstrous” and slated what he called the “extreme intolerance” of authorities in interviews after his speech, asking: “What will this look like around the world?”

He added: “If anything made me think Brexit was the right thing to do, it was the events here today.”

The “no surrender” stance of the organisers comes as a Government source told GB News: “It’s unclear exactly what’s happened here, but the scenes will worry anyone who believes in free speech. Free societies should be confident enough to allow free debate.”

The Prime Minister's deputy official spokesperson added that the “no-platforming of speakers is damaging to democracy.”

They said: “Clearly these reports are extremely disturbing. The Prime Minister is a strong supporter and advocate of free speech and believes it is fundamental to any democracy.

“Speaking more broadly to the principle of such events, he is very clear that cancelling events or preventing attendance and no-platforming of speakers is damaging to democracy as a result. Free debate and the exchange of views is vital even when we disagree.”