The Politics Conference That Shows Young People Will Only Tolerate Left-Wing Views

A political conference should be a place for debate, not intolerance. I recently attended the PolEconUK Student Conference for those studying A-level Politics and related subjects. Politicians including Zack Polanski, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Wes Streeting each had a short slot to promote their parties and explain their political ideas.

The conference was a worthwhile event and largely lived up to expectations. There were politicians from several parties as well as guest speakers, including Alastair Campbell. It gave students a chance to learn more about the range of political views in the UK and to question those who hold them. Each speaker had around five to 10 minutes to speak, followed by roughly 10 to 15 minutes of questions. Students could walk up to a microphone and question the politicians directly. But many of the interruptions did not come from those at the microphone; they came from the audience.

We live in a democratic society and it is perfectly reasonable for students to challenge politicians and disagree with them. But there were too many disruptions, with students talking over some speakers and trying to drown them out with heckling and boos when they expressed their views. The intolerance was strikingly one-sided.

For example, Reform’s candidate for London Mayor in 2028, Laila Cunningham (formerly a Conservative councillor), was one of the speakers. She faced unverified accusations of racism – one student shouted “racist” as she was discussing the broken visa system – and claims that her party is causing division and hatred in the country. Many students simply would not let her speak. She eventually cut short her remarks and walked off the stage, visibly frustrated. By contrast, Zack Polanski was greeted with loud cheers and delivered his speech without interruption.

I disagree with Polanski’s Green Party policies, which I believe are incompatible with economic progress. But he did say something worth applauding. He urged the audience to listen respectfully to every speaker and pointed out that a plurality of views is a vital part of British culture. His supporters – who made up the majority in the room – might have taken that advice more seriously.

Some students used the question session to incite hostility towards certain speakers, attempting to turn the audience against them. The Chair had to remind the crowd that Britain is a democracy and that tolerance is a core value of our society. Many ignored this, particularly during Jacob Rees-Mogg’s appearance. He holds a number of traditional conservative and Catholic views and was questioned about them. But when he tried to answer – for example about his pro-life position – he was shouted down and repeatedly heckled.

Some students simply refused to listen to the Conservative and Reform speakers at all. Many seats were empty during those sessions, with students leaving the hall and returning only for the more Left-leaning speakers, when the room was full again. This behaviour suggests an unwillingness among some younger people to hear opposing views. I have experienced something similar myself. Because I hold conservative views, I have been excluded from friendship groups and labelled ‘far Right’ or ‘racist’. Those making these accusations will neither debate the issues nor explain their objections. I doubt my experience is unique.

Tolerance and a willingness to listen to opposing views have long been hallmarks of this country, helping to make Britain one of the most democratic and politically stable nations in the world. Yet that spirit appears to be weakening as more people refuse even to hear arguments they disagree with. When debate is replaced by hostility and attempts to silence others, the foundations of a healthy democracy are put at risk.

Tolerance matters because it underpins liberal democracy: it protects rights, allows diverse groups to live together peacefully and enables the free exchange of ideas. Without it, society drifts towards authoritarianism – a system in which only one set of opinions is allowed to be heard. That may feel comfortable if your views dominate. But history shows that the balance of opinion can change quickly, and those who cheer the silencing of others today may find themselves silenced tomorrow.

Jack Watson is a 17 year-old schoolboy in Year 12. You can read his Substack about following Hull City FC here. Follow him on X here.