Kemi Badenoch is right to defend Kate Forbes from religious intolerance

Classic liberalism means everyone’s views have a place in the national conversation, says James Mildred. If Hindus and Muslims can lead political parties and hold high office, why can’t an evangelical Christian?

“To stop people from saying what they really feel is overly draconian.” So said Kemi Badenoch in an interview with Politico. She was talking about Kate Forbes and the media storm that has surrounded her in recent days.

What Badenoch was articulating in her defence of Forbes was classical liberalism. The idea is that you have your own beliefs and worldview and, naturally, that shapes how you think about everything. It doesn’t mean everyone will agree with you, but it does mean your ideas and convictions can be part of the national conversation. You have a right to be heard.