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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Free Thinkers
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260815T130000
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DTSTAMP:20260720T180218Z
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UID:809-1786798800-1786806000@www.freethinkers.org.uk
SUMMARY:Sebastian Moore - SDP Candidate in Gorton & Denton By-election
DESCRIPTION:‘The Crisis is Coming. The Only Solution is Nationbuilding.’ \n\n\n\nAcross the political spectrum\, there is broad agreement that Britain is in trouble. The NHS is barely functioning. Small boat crossings remain high. Businesses are struggling with rising costs. Theft and petty crime has become commonplace. Over a million young people aren’t in work or education\, and key institutions appear incapable of performing their purpose. \n\n\n\nIs this a series of individual policy issues or is there something more going on? \n\n\n\nBeneath the headlines\, lies a deeper issue: the gradual erosion of the nation itself. As our shared identity weakens\, politics becomes more divisive. Compromise is replaced by moral condemnation\, and fellow citizens begin to be viewed as enemies rather than neighbours. Common institutions lose credibility\, separate communities arise\, and governments become more inclined to use censorship and force over consent. \n\n\n\nIf Britain is to recover\, addressing individual policy failures will not be enough. But how do we find a shared sense of purpose that would allow us to restore the social bonds and political culture that make a functioning democracy possible? \n\n\n\nSebastian Moore argues that the challenge facing Britain is not just one of economics or culture\, but of nationhood. To navigate the coming crisis\, we must reinvent the nation.
URL:https://www.freethinkers.org.uk/event/sebastian-moore-sdp-candidate-in-gorton-denton-by-election/
LOCATION:The Hop Merchant\, Nottingham\, 64-68 Upper Parliament Street\, Nottingham\, NG1 2AG\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://static.freethinkers.org.uk/uploads/2026/06/Seb-Moore.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T130000
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DTSTAMP:20260819T080816Z
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UID:831-1789218000-1789225200@www.freethinkers.org.uk
SUMMARY:Policing in the 21st Century: Do We Need to Rethink?
DESCRIPTION:The result of our AV poll saw members put this topic ahead for our monthly discussion. \n\n\n\nThe world’s first Police Service was founded 1829 in Britain. Bobbies took their nickname from the Prime Minister of the day\, Robert Peel (they were also known as Peelers in the early days). \n\n\n\nBefore this time\, local sheriffs/magistrates or Constables were responsible for maintaining order. Any riots or mob activity would be suppressed (often quite brutally) by the armed militia\, as in the Peterloo Massacre of 1819. \n\n\n\nLuckily\, we’ve moved on quite a lot from these dark times\, and by the mid 20th century\, the modern police force was respected by many citizens. Since this time\, several Acts of Parliament have been passed in order to further modernise the Police. \n\n\n\nHowever\, over the past few years\, we’ve witnessed an epidemic of demonstrations\, some peaceful as in road blockages by JSO and others quite violent as with the recent attacks. \n\n\n\nPeople from working-class communities are beginning to ask serious questions about two-tier policing. Many now believe that bias exists within our police forces. Are Police Crime Commissioners effective? Do we need more engagement with local communities to stop further violent clashes? \n\n\n\nAre politicians to blame? Are they merely abandoning our Police Service to its own devices? During Lockdowns\, many police officers were bemused as to ‘what regulations they should enact’. \n\n\n\nAre the Police just being used as scapegoats in a political arena that has become toxic and with no accountability from the Home Office. \n\n\n\nJoin us for a lively Saturday afternoon debate\, all’s we ask is that you respect the opinions of others\, and we expect everyone to respect yours. Also\, we don’t condone the use of inappropriate language. \n\n\n\nThe bar downstairs serves drinks (a lime cordial only costs 50p)\, so we’d appreciate it if you were curtious enough to buy a beverage or two. \n\n\n\nLook forward to debating with everyone. Please bring along any evidence you may have as regards the topic.
URL:https://www.freethinkers.org.uk/event/policing-in-the-21st-century-do-we-need-to-rethink/
LOCATION:The Hop Merchant\, Nottingham\, 64-68 Upper Parliament Street\, Nottingham\, NG1 2AG\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://static.freethinkers.org.uk/uploads/2026/08/highres_522747006.webp
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