Throughout history there has been an ongoing battle between those who believe in the Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression and those who would deny it for their own purposes. How did we get to where we are today? Is freedom of speech really under threat and if so from whom? How do we calibrate the defence of our essential values in an era of rapid technological change and protect both our freedoms and the safety of our citizens?
The Right Honourable Dr Liam Fox MP, Former Secretary of State for International Trade and Former Secretary of State for Defence, speaks at the Adam Smith Institute at 11am on Monday 22nd March to make a pitch for free speech followed by an in-depth interview with journalist Jodie Ginsberg. Together they’ll explore the issues in civil society, law, and the philosophical battle over what we should be able to say, when, and where.
Join Dr Fox, Ms Ginsberg, and the Adam Smith Institute live on Monday 22nd March 11am UK Time via Zoom.
Details:
Date: Monday, 22nd March 2021
Time: 11.00am - 12.20.pm 2021 (UK time)
About the Speakers:
The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP has been Member of Parliament for North Somerset since 1992. In John Major’s Government he served as a Minister at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and as Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of the Treasury). Under David Cameron he served as Defence Secretary and between July 2016 and July 2019, he served in Prime Minister Theresa May’s Government as Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade. As International Trade Secretary he was tasked with creating the UK’s first Independent Trade Policy for forty years post-Brexit.
The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP has been Member of Parliament for North Somerset since 1992. In John Major’s Government he served as a Minister at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and as Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of the Treasury). He had previously served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Michael Howard, then Home Secretary.
Between 1997 and 2010, he held several roles on the Conservative Party Opposition Front Bench such as Constitutional Affairs Spokesman, Shadow Health Secretary, Conservative Party Chairman, Shadow Foreign Secretary and Shadow Defence Secretary.
In May 2010, Prime Minister David Cameron appointed him Secretary of State for Defence. In 2013, he published ‘Rising Tides’ a book analysing crucial world issues with Tony Blair, Condoleezza Rice, Malcolm Rifkind and Donald Rumsfeld.
Between July 2016 and July 2019, he served in Prime Minister Theresa May’s Government as Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade. As International Trade Secretary he was tasked with creating the UK’s first Independent Trade Policy for forty years post-Brexit. During his time in post he strongly argued for global trade liberalisation, championed free trade and supported a rules-based system with WTO reform.
Before entering politics, Dr Fox worked as an NHS doctor and then as a family GP. He is also a former Civilian Army Medical Officer and Divisional Surgeon with St John Ambulance. In 2012, he founded the military charity ‘Give Us Time’.
He was born in Scotland and attended St Bride’s High School, the biggest comprehensive state school in Europe, before studying medicine at the University of Glasgow Medical School.
Jodie Ginsberg is the Chief Executive of Internews Europe, a media and information development non-governmental organisation based in London. Internews Europe is part of the Internews alliance, which works in more than 80 countries worldwide. Internews ensures access to accurate and trustworthy information through journalism training and digital security support and by providing business advice to media outlets. Internews has more than four decades working in some of the most challenging environments for freedom of expression and a free media.
Jodie is a former journalist, having started her career with the Reuters news agency in London. She has worked extensively as a foreign correspondent and business reporter and from 2007-2011 was Reuters’ UK bureau chief, leading coverage of the UK riots, financial crisis and Royal Wedding.
In 2012, Jodie moved into the non-profit sector, joining award-winning girls’ education Camfed as Head of Communications. In 2014, Jodie was appointed as Chief Executive of Index on Censorship, the UK-based freedom of expression charity where she campaigned extensively on free speech issues. Recognised as an international expert on freedom of expression and media freedom, Jodie is a former council member of IFEX, the global network of freedom expression organisations, and a current member of the 17-person Media Freedom Coalition’s Advisory Network, the group support the UK-Canada initiative to support media freedom. She has given evidence to parliamentary select committees on issues related to freedom of expression, including online censorship and regulation. Jodie was an event chair at the inaugural Media Freedom conference in London in 2019 and is a regular broadcast commentator on media freedom and freedom of expression issues.