The Cutlery Club Conversations
Arts:Food
This podcast episode was recorded in July 2022 following the Cutlery Club salon in the St Pancras clock tower, King's Cross, London when Claire Fox was my chosen guest of honour. Claire is now a non-affiliated member of the House of Lords, a controversial undertaking and one that has brought her heavy criticism, due to her previous calls for its abolishment. She founded the Academy of Ideas and Battle of Ideas annual festival and has more recently written a book, I Find That Offensive about the demise of free speech.
I first met Claire nearly 20 years ago when she founded The Academy of Ideas, a platform for open debate and free speech. Once I had got past the initial feeling of intimidation, I warmed to her honesty and genuine interest in people.
So for me she was a natural choice to host a Cutlery Club salon and her straight talking, honesty and openness made her a superb choice; the guests got to see the real person behind the formidable, no-nonsense public persona.
We talk about the controversy surrounding her decision to accept a position in the Lords, the pressures of public life and social media, cancel culture, her fantasy dinner party guests and dead heading flowers! There's loads more actually, from food favourites to guilty pleasures; she's as down-to-earth as they come, always speaking from the heart and completely transparent.
Now, remember, I’m a complete novice at this podcasting malarkey so it's not surprising that it didn’t go strictly to plan! So, I’m asking up front for your understanding and tolerance of the varying recording tones and patchy editing (I'm still learning!) Some of it was recorded in Claire’s office at the House of Lords, and some of it was re-recorded on the phone the following Sunday morning, and subsequently, the recording you are hearing is a mash up of both! I won’t bore you with why, but needless to say, there were lessons learned about checking your equipment and knowing your platform limitations!!
So, here we are; me, a bit nervous (nothing to do with Claire, just this whole podcasting thing!) trying to scratch beneath the surface a little bit more, and Claire, just being totally Claire. A brilliant woman who I feel very lucky to know. I hope you enjoy.
#clairefox #battleofideas #academyofideas #baronessofbuckley #brexitparty #houseoflords #ifindthatoffensive #freespeech #cancelculture #buckley #snowflakegeneration
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