The attack on Young Bob is part of an alarming trend

In recent years, young people have become increasingly vocal about what they perceive to be profound injustices in society. Many of us are familiar with scenes of blue-haired trans activists, Black Lives Matter campaigners, pro-Palestinian demonstrators and climate activists – whether at universities or on social media – demanding to be heard at the top of their voices.

Increasingly, these activists aren’t content with howling down their opponents. They are also resorting to violence. We have seen this yet again with the brutal assault on right-wing activist Gregory Moffitt – known online as ‘Young Bob’ – on the streets of Manchester this week.

Young Bob – the self-declared ‘Christian pro-life remigration activist’ – was attacked on Market Street on Monday afternoon, repeatedly kicked and punched until he fell to the ground. The footage is shocking. Three of the alleged perpetrators have been arrested and bailed.

Young Bob had been hosting a debate stand wearing a Restore Britain cap, seated at a table bearing a sign that read: ‘Reform must be more radical. Change my mind.’ It was a nod to the motto of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk who was murdered while speaking at Utah Valley University last year.

Fortunately, Young Bob has recovered – an opportunity not given to Kirk. But the next victim may not be so lucky. Political violence is rising – and, increasingly, it is ‘progressives’ who are responsible for it.

Even before his assault, Young Bob was no stranger to cancel culture. Last month, while hosting a debate at the University of Bristol, as part of his ‘Change My Mind’ tour, he had a tub of curry thrown at him by a disgruntled student.

This exposes the intolerance of those who refuse to engage in open debate. And we must be under no illusions as to where this intolerance leads.

A further incident unfolded when Young Bob visited the London School of Economics last year, at the invitation of the university’s Conservative Association, to speak about the importance of social conservatism in Britain today.

He recounted that attendees were initially engaged – asking questions and taking pictures – until masked protesters barged in, seized materials and used megaphones to drown out the discussion. A classic case of the heckler’s veto.

The ability to debate in good faith has deteriorated sharply in recent years, as cancel culture has embedded itself across university campuses. Students and academics alike have faced abuse, harassment and ostracism for expressing perfectly lawful views.

What happened to Young Bob in Manchester is part of a wider pattern. Intolerance on university campuses is a breeding ground for political violence – a truth underscored, at far greater cost, by the assassination of Kirk.

Last year, a poll by Looking for Growth and Merlin Strategy found that seven in 10 people are concerned about political violence. Worryingly, one in five believe it’s acceptable under some circumstances.

Charlie Kirk’s warning that ‘when people stop talking, that’s when you get violence’ has never felt more apt. Britain is more divided than it has been in a long time. It is no coincidence that this has coincided with a free-speech crisis – most acute in higher education.

It’s time to call out cancel culture for what it is. It’s nothing to do with ‘being kind’. It’s about suppressing speech by any means necessary – including violence.

Max Thompson is the campaigns officer at the Free Speech Union.