One of the defining characteristics of our age is the rising appeal of authoritarians. The curious fact is both their supporters and opponents believe they are acting in the interests of democracy.

This is because of differing perceptions of the threat to democracy. One side views the bureaucratic institutions of state, and the law as thwarting public will. The other fears unchecked executive power and its proximity to untrammelled corporate freedom.  The election of President Trump and his employment of the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has cranked up the volume of this debate. Deep concerns about a new era of oligarchy have surfaced but so has quiet admiration for at least the appearance of decisive political action.

In that context, this event will consider which is the bigger threat to democracy in 2025: autocracy or bureaucracy? We will consider if we are entering an era of authoritarians, and what might stop that? Is there a democratic reform agenda that can take the UK to a more demanding version of democracy, instead of down the authoritarian path?

Event Schedule

7pm: Pre-event socialising and networking

A cash bar will be available for refreshments.

7:15pm: Event begins

8:30pm: Event ends

Speakers:

Dr. Parth Patel is the Associate Director for Democracy & Politics at IPPR, where he leads research on democracy, public policy, and inequality. His work examines the influence of underrepresented communities on policy, the future of social democracy, and strategies to reduce health disparities. A practicing NHS doctor, Parth worked in A&E during the first wave of Covid-19 and is a clinical fellow at University College London, analysing race and class inequalities in health. He is a frequent commentator on BBC News, ITV, Channel 4, Sky News, and LBC, and his writing appears in New Statesman, Prospect, and the British Medical Journal.

Ben Ansell is Professor of Comparative Democratic Institutions in the Department of Politics and International Relations and Professorial Fellow at Nuffield College. He received his PhD in Government from Harvard University in 2006 and conducts research across a wide range of comparative politics and political economy. Before joining Oxford and Nuffield College, he was an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota. Ben’s latest book, Why Politics Fails, was published in October 2023. Drawing on nearly two decades of research and cutting-edge scholarship across the social sciences, the book explores why politics so often falls short. Throughout, he examines how our individual self-interest sabotages our collective goals. Ben also delivered the BBC’s 2023 Reith Lectures. His four lectures, titled Our Democratic Future, explore how to build political systems that work for all and are resilient enough to confront the challenges of the 21st century. They are available on BBC Sounds.

Polly Toynbee is a Journalist, Author and Broadcaster. Polly is currently a Guardian columnist and was formerly BBC social affairs editor, columnist and associate editor of the Independent, co-editor of the Washington Monthly and a reporter and feature writer for the Observer. She has won numerous awards including a National Press Award and has been What the Papers Say ‘Columnist of the Year’. Her recent books include An Uneasy Inheritance: My Family and Other Radicals and The Only Way Is Up: How to Take Britain from Austerity to Prosperity, a post-election book co-authored with David Walker.

Rt Hon Sir John Redwood, former Conservative MP for Wokingham. John was the Conservative Member of Parliament for Wokingham from 1987 to 2024. He served as Secretary of State for Wales in Prime Minister John Major’s government and later served in the Shadow Cabinets of William Hague and Michael Howard, and as chair of the Conservative Party’s Economic Competitiveness Policy Group and chair of the Conservative Parliamentary Economic Affairs Committee. Prior to becoming an MP, John completed a doctorate at All Souls College, Oxford and served as Director of the Number 10 Policy Unit under Margaret Thatcher. John received a knighthood in the 2019 New Year Honours list.

Polly Mackenzie, Chief Social Purpose Officer, University of the Arts London. Polly has been Chief Social Purpose Officer at the University of the Arts London since July 2022, having previously served as Chief Executive of Demos, the UK’s leading cross-party think tank, which brings citizen voice and lived experience into public policy discussions. Previous civil society roles include founding CEO of the Money & Mental Health Policy Institute and establishing the operations of the Women’s Equality Party. From 2010-2015 she was Director of Policy to the Deputy Prime Minister, based in 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, having worked as a policy advisor to the Liberal Democrats since 2004.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is an independent charity and the UK’s leading progressive think tank, dedicated to building a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society. For over 30 years, IPPR has shaped national conversations and driven policy change on issues such as economic justice, climate action, and social equity. With offices in London, North England, and Scotland, it conducts pioneering research and collaborates with policymakers, businesses, and communities to tackle today’s biggest challenges. From advocating for the minimum wage to proposing a windfall tax on energy companies, IPPR develops practical solutions that promote democracy, sustainability, and shared prosperity.