Nick Cohen Nick Cohen

How the liberal-left can fight woke ideology

There is a crying need for honesty in the woke debate.(Alamy)

There is a leftist case against woke ideology. It’s rare to hear it because it flies against many preconceptions and fears. Liberals and leftists are wary for two reasons. Conservatives love to highlight the first: the fear of being cancelled. And just because conservatives love to highlight it, does not mean it is not true.

I was at one of London University’s colleges a few days ago. I had better not say which one. The private WhatsApp groups of women academics are full of complaints about the trans movement overturning the gains of feminism.

There is a crying need for honesty in this debate

Not one academic dared make her thoughts public. Her university, her trade union and her colleagues would either happily denounce her heresies or would not dare to defend them. Such stories are everywhere.

The second reason goes to a more subtle form of cowardice. People on the centre-left believe, with justice, that their critiques will aid and comfort the right and indeed the far right.

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