In an attack on political correctness, broadcaster Melvyn Bragg compared cancel culture to Hitler’s ascent.
‘You’re not permitted to talk about this or that because it’s not politically right,’ the 82-year-old BBC Radio 4 host said at the Hay Festival. I believe you are free to discuss anything. Anything.’
Lord Bragg believed that Hitler’s rise to power may have been slowed in 1938 if there had been free and open debate regarding his programs.
We could have argued between ourselves, we’d have been active instead of bubbling it away, which we did. I know that’s an extreme example. Free speech is sacred and that’s it.’
Meanwhile author Anthony Horowitz has claimed a ‘culture of fear’ is brewing among children’s publishers, with writers living in ‘extremely dangerous’ times.
He said: ‘I have just suffered from my last book notes from my publisher which absolutely shocked me about things I could and couldn’t say.’