Battle of Ideas Festival 2025: What is the Problem with Defining Islamophobia?

This week’s episode is a bit different — a live recording of an especially timely event hosted by the FSU as part of the Battle of Ideas Festival 2025. Titled, ‘What is the Problem with Defining Islamophobia?’, this lively discussion, features fascinating comments from the audience, but first you’ll hear from a expert panel of speakers who have been at the frontline of debating the issue in parliament. Professor Khalid Mahmood Former Labour member of Parliament for Birmingham Perry Barr, visiting professor at Birmingham City University, Director of KN Strategic Solutions Ltd. Nick Timothy MP Member of parliament for West Suffolk, former special advisor to the UK Home Office, author and comment writer. Baroness Amanda Spielman Conservative peer, former chief inspector for Ofsted. Toby Young General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, associate editor of the Spectator, editor-in-chief of the Daily Sceptic. Chaired by Dr Jan Macvarish, Education and Events Director of the Free Speech Union. Edited by Jason Clift