Back in the 1980s and ‘90s, Moira Knox was one of the biggest names on the Edinburgh Fringe. She was guaranteed acres of newspaper coverage and never had to update her routine.
Knox, a Tory councillor in the Scottish capital, was a rumbling – but entirely approachable – outrage machine. A tabloid reporter looking for a quick hit could depend upon her to condemn the ‘offensive’ content of a whole range of Fringe shows. Whether it was the use of profanity or the exposure of genitalia during a performance, Councillor Knox was ready to react.
No good will come of this cowardice. Any erosion of freedom of expression is bad for everyone
Of course, the politician’s words of condemnation never had the effect she desired. A show savaged by Councillor Knox – who would never actually attend the performances from which she wished to protect the innocent – was never in risk of cancellation. Rather, her outrage piqued interest in shows that might otherwise have been ignored.
Councillor Knox was held in some affection by Fringe performers, many of whom had her to thank for increased ticket sales. The Moira award for the Fringe’s most offensive act was established.
Now, seven years after Knox’s death, a new type of puritan polices the performances taking place across the capital. Unlike Councillor Knox, they are succeeding in their mission.
A venue scheduled to host a comedy night at which the Father Ted co-writer Graham Linehan was to appear have announced the cancellation of the show. A statement from Leith Arches thanked ‘members of the public and our community’ for bringing one of the acts due to perform to their attention. As Leith Arches was an ‘inclusive’ venue, the show was off.
In recent years, Linehan has become more well known for his highly vocal opinions on the issue of trans rights activism than for his writing. His gender critical views have all but destroyed his career; Linehan is now a showbiz pariah.
The decision by the management at Leith Arches was, it must be said, a bold one. Earlier in the year, the Stand comedy club tried to cancel an event at which the gender critical MP Joanna Cherry was due to appear. Staff at the venue had complained they would be made to feel uncomfortable by being exposed to her legal and commonly held opinions about the conflict between trans and women’s rights.
The threat of legal action was enough to overturn that decision and the show went ahead. The Stand has principles, and, it seems, if those principles expose it to the risk of expensive legal action, it has others.
Similarly, last year, the second of two performances by the comedian Jerry Sadowitz was cancelled after staff at the Pleasance complained about what they’d had to listen to on the opening night.
The ‘progressives’ behind campaigns to have Fringe shows shut down argue that they do not oppose free speech. Freedom of speech, they say, isn’t freedom from consequences. But, so long as nobody is breaking any laws, surely that’s precisely what it should be?
Depressingly, as was the case with Sadowitz last year, few comedians have spoken up in solidarity with Linehan. How strong, I wonder, is the commitment to free speech of someone who will not defend the rights of those with whom they disagree?
No good will come of this cowardice. Any erosion of freedom of expression is bad for everyone. If we saw off the half of the boat occupied by those with whom we disagree, our half sinks, too.
This latest cancellation of a Fringe show at the behest of activists marks another dark day for the city of the Enlightenment. How I yearn for the days of Moira Knox, when an attempt to cancel a Fringe show would lead to record-breaking ticket sales.
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