Downing Street: Attempts to Shut Down Brussels Conference Are ‘Disturbing’

Downing Street has called the reports of Brussels police attempting to shut down a conference attended by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Nigel Farage “extremely disturbing.” The National Conservatism Conference, scheduled for April 16 and 17 in Brussels, was disrupted on Tuesday, after people were stopped from entering it a few hours after it began. Citing concerns about public safety, Brussels authorities ordered the police to close the conference. Attendees were allowed to leave the Claridge event centre in the Saint-Josse district, but not to reenter. Downing Street said that reports of police action were “extremely disturbing.” “The prime minister is a strong supporter and advocator for free speech and he believes that should be fundamental to any democracy. Speaking more broadly to the principle of such events, he is very clear that cancelling events or preventing attendance and no-platforming speakers is damaging to free speech and to democracy as a result,” a Number 10 spokeswoman said....