The left-wing authoritarians

There is a strong case to be made that, in certain cultural and institutional domains, UK left-wingers display increasingly authoritarian and conformist tendencies.

In media, academia, and public institutions, progressive values on race, gender, climate, identity often dominate, creating cultural orthodoxy and social enforcement. Deviation from these values can lead to professional or social consequences - being “de-platformed,” ostracized, or publicly condemned. This creates an environment of ideological conformity, where self-censorship becomes common.

 There is a moral absolutism in which many on the modern left frame political issues in terms of absolute moral binaries, good versus evil, oppressed versus oppressor. This mindset can justify intolerance of dissent, as opposing views are seen not as just wrong but as immoral, harmful, and the expression of evil. This results in a tendency toward punitive social policing of language, beliefs, and even intent.

There is an institutional authoritarianism because many public bodies now embed progressive ideologies through mandatory training, speech policies, and audits. DEI initiatives are an expression of this. These frameworks often leave little room for open debate or alternative perspectives. Critics argue this represents top-down enforcement of ideology, using bureaucratic power.

Segments of the UK left openly support censorship and advocate restrictions on “harmful” speech, including expanded hate speech laws, online content regulation, and limits on “offensive” views. The justification is usually framed as protecting marginalized groups, but it reflects a willingness to use state or platform power to suppress dissent.

Within activist spaces and progressive circles, there is often pressure to toe the line on evolving norms, such as the language surrounding gender identity. The result is a socially enforced conformity. Disagreement or hesitation, even from sympathetic voices, can lead to being labeled problematic or excluded.

There is a credible and growing case that parts of the UK left, particularly in cultural, academic, and institutional settings, exhibit authoritarian and conformist traits, especially around ideological enforcement, suppression of dissent and moral absolutism

These developments are especially pronounced among younger, university-educated demographics and within public sector organizations.

The case could be made that this is part of the authoritarianism that lies at the heart of socialism: the desire to make people into something they are not, and to use compulsion to bring that about.

Madsen Pirie