Socialism in Europe is in decline and the cancel culture stems from terrified socialists who have been in control of Europe for far too long, says Sally-Ann Hart

Short for National Conservatism, NatCon focuses on upholding national and cultural identity, family, religious and cultural values and opposition to illegal migration – along with a dash of Euroscepticism.

The conference brought together conservative thinkers, politicians and civic leaders, journalists, students and activists to discuss various topics relating to the rediscovery, essentially, of conservative ideas and philosophy.

Some members of the UK Conservative Party were present along with Nigel Farage.

NatCon is not my thing – I am a member of the Conservative Party - but goodness, I thought, what would Mr Kir think of the Conservative Party Conference – would he be tempted to ban that too if he could?

For a group of conservatives to face the threat of cancellation in Brussels is not merely bemusing, it is alarming.

As a member of the UK Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I have seen a growing swing to the right across Europe in the past year.

The Council of Europe includes nearly all European countries except Russia and Belarus, for obvious reasons.

Across Europe, the number of right-wing members of parliament is growing, and governments are shifting right – some centre right others a bit further.

It is also clear that harder-right parties are also picking up support.

Take the AfD in Germany, for example, which has become Germany’s biggest opposition party - is it a conservative party, or does it cross into more extreme territory?

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Many on the left label conservatives as “far-right” as a derogatory term and to shut down dialogue, but not all conservatives fall into the far-right category.

The conservative spectrum is diverse, ranging from moderate conservatives to more right-leaning factions – there are nuances within conservatism in the same way that there are nuances within socialism.

Discussing the growth in conservatism with European colleagues, many people across Europe feel that mainstream left-wing socialist and liberal policies have not addressed their concerns.

Social and economic globalisation, technological shifts, and cultural changes have left people feeling unheard.

Conservatism appeals to people because it emphasises national identity, community, religious and family values, and protection of traditional norms.

The issue in Brussels with the NatCon conference is essentially about freedom of speech, which is a core pillar of democracy.

It is not just about individual freedom of expression, but about ensuring a fair, democratic and equal society.

For the left, freedom of speech is qualified, otherwise you will be cancelled.

Socialism in Europe is in decline and the cancel culture stems from terrified socialists who have been in control of Europe for far too long.

The mayors of Brussels showed their authoritarianism by attempting to ban the conference.

The left thinks that by suppressing free speech it will help maintain its grip on power.

It does not understand that people who feel silenced become more determined to express their views.

Tha NatCon Conference faced significant challenges due to tenuous concerns about public safety, pressure from left-wing activist groups, and debates over freedom of speech and assembly.

But despite these obstacles, freedom prevailed, and the conference went ahead, emphasising the importance of freedom of speech, open dialogue and a diversity of opinions in democratic societies - whether you agree or not.