Spiked

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'''''Spiked''''' (or '''''Sp!ked''''' if you're 13 years old) is a [[British]] online magazine of [[libertarian]] persuasion, founded in 2000. It has a curious history tracing back to a bunch of dissident [[Marxism|Marxists]] from the '''British Revolutionary Communist Party''' who previously wrote a magazine called ''Living Marxism''. ''Spiked'' has a variety of eccentric contributors who have expressed [[crank]] opinions on topics such as [[global warming]], [[AIDS]], [[Second-hand smoke]], [[transphobia]], [[feminism]], corporate regulation, and [[hate speech]].<ref name=turner2010/> It opposes [[free speech]] restrictions on university campuses, such as [[no platform]]ing, to which end it compiles annual Free Speech University Rankings.<ref name=turner2010/> It is sometimes pro-[[science]] but is strongly [[anti-environmentalist]] even extending to [[global warming denialism]] as well as transphobic.<ref>[https://www.spiked-online.com/2020/06/07/the-sexist-crusade-against-jk-rowling/], Based on their response to the JK Rowling debacle. </ref>

It is linked with a number of other organisations, many related to science and science policy, including [[Sense About Science]]. To its enemies (including [[George Monbiot]], [[Nick Cohen]], Peter Melchett, and public transparency campaigners Lobbywatch), these bodies form a vast secret network of [[entryism|entryists]]; to others, it's just "a loose, informal group of people, some of whom have known each other a long time".<ref name=turner2010/>

[[Media Bias/Fact Check]] rates it as "right bias" and Factual Reporting: "MIXED".<ref>[https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/spiked-magazine/ Spiked], Media Bias/Fact Check, accessed 14 Jan 2019</ref>

==History==
In the mid-1970s, there were a series of splits in the International Socialists. One faction became the Revolutionary Communist Group, which in turn split and gave rise to the Revolutionary Communist Tendency, which later changed its name to the Revolutionary Communist Party (albeit not the only organisation to carry that name). The RCP was led by Frank Furedi, an academic in the sociology department at the University of Kent.<ref name=monbiot2018/> (Another faction from the International Socialists formed the equally notorious [[Socialist Workers Party]].) In the 1980s the RCP moved away from conventional [[left-wing]] [[politics]]: it opposed the British [[National Health Service]], opposed the [[1984-85 miners' strike]], claimed the risk from [[HIV/AIDS]] was overblown and was being hyped up by [[Charity|charities]] and campaigners, and opposed environmentalism.<ref name=turner2010/>

In 1988, the RCP launched a magazine called ''Living Marxism'', which moved from orthodox left-wing politics to an increasing belief in the [[free market]] and right-libertarianism, and changed its name to ''LM'' in 1996.<ref name=pallister/> ''LM'' went bankrupt in 2000 after losing a libel suit against British broadcaster ITN, after ''LM'' claimed that ITN had faked evidence of the [[genocide]] of Bosnians by Serbs in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]].<ref name=wplm>{{wpa|Living Marxism}}</ref> In the '90s, many "activist" left-wingers were inexplicably fond of [[Serbia]] and tried to ignore or deny its mass murder of Croats and Bosnians, in part to try and prevent military intervention by the west in the former [[Yugoslavia]]; in 1992, ''LM'' described Serbia as the "white niggers" of the new world order.<ref name=turner2010/>

Out of the ashes of ''LM'' came ''Spiked'', an online current affairs magazine first published in 2000.<ref name=wplm/><ref>{{wpa|Spiked (magazine)}}</ref> It had a lot of the same contributors as ''LM'', including original editor Mick Hume, Furedi, Claire Fox, Brendan O'Neill, James Heartfield, Michael Fitzpatrick, and James Woudhuysen.<ref name=monbiot2018/>

==Opinions==
According to [[journalist]] George Monbiot, ''Spiked'' "appears to hate leftwing politics. It inveighs against the [[welfare state]], against regulation, the [[Occupy]] movement, anti-capitalists, [[Jeremy Corbyn]], [[George Soros]], #[[MeToo]], 'black privilege' and [[Black Lives Matter]]. … Its articles repeatedly defend figures on the hard right or far right: [[Katie Hopkins]], [[Nigel Farage]], [[Alex Jones]], the [[Football Lads Alliance|Democratic Football Lads’ Alliance]], [[Tommy Robinson]], [[Toby Young]], [[Arron Banks]], [[Viktor Orbán]]."<ref name=monbiot2018/>

It has taken an extreme libertarian view, opposing:
* [[gun control]]<ref name=monbiot2003/>
* restrictions on [[Tobacco smoking|tobacco]] and tobacco advertising<ref name=monbiot2003/><ref name=turner2010/>
* [[taxes]] on [[sugar]] and other legislation to promote healthy eating
* all corporate regulation generally<ref name=turner2010/>
* legislation on [[hate speech]] and anything else that restricts freedom of speech even of the most unpleasant and hateful people<ref name=turner2010/>
* The #[[MeToo]] movement, which it claims is [[misogynistic]]. [[Bullshit|Because apparently women being able to report their abusers and hold them accountable for their crimes is ‘misogynistic’]] <ref>[https://www.spiked-online.com/2018/01/11/the-misogyny-of-metoo/ The misogyny of #MeToo], ''Spiked'', 11 Jan 2018</ref>
* The [[European Union]]<ref>[https://ansionnachfionn.com/2018/02/14/spiked-magazine-gets-it-wrong-on-brexit-and-ireland/ Spiked Magazine Gets It Wrong On Brexit And Ireland], ''An Sionnach Fionn'', 14 Feb 2018</ref>

It has argued that [[global warming]] could be a good thing — it has also hosted [[Bjørn Lomborg]], who has tried to negate the problems of global warming by saying that [[Not as bad as|there are more pressing issues]], and defended [[Martin Durkin]]'s climate change-denial documentaries such as ''Against Nature'', which featured contributors from ''LM''. Its anti-environmentalist message also featured on other [[BBC]] and Channel 4 programs including ''Equinox'', ''Attack of the Killer Tomatoes'', ''Counterblast'', and ''Zeitgeist''. It also supports [[fracking]] and [[coal]] mining.<ref name=monbiot2003/><ref name=sourcewatch/><ref name=pallister/>

''Spiked'' has supported [[Neil Hamilton]], disgraced [[Tory]]-turned-[[UKIP]] politician.<ref name=monbiot2003/>

[[Breitbart]] has celebrated ''Spiked'' as part of a new range of "[[Cultural libertarianism|cultural libertarians]]" alongside [[Milo Yiannopoulos]], [[Katie Hopkins]], [[Carl Benjamin]], [[Christina Hoff Sommers]], Cathy Young, [[Bill Maher]], [[Maajid Nawaz]], [[Jon Ronson]], and actor [[Adam Baldwin]].<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2015/08/24/rise-of-the-cultural-libertarians/ Rise of the Cultural Libertarians], Breitbart, 24 Aug 2015</ref>

In slightly more reasonable beliefs, it is strongly in favour of [[GM]] crops. It also isn't keen on [[Return of Kings]] and [[Roosh V]].<ref>[http://www.returnofkings.com/70170/is-spiked-online-editor-luke-gittos-a-sexual-cuckservative IS SPIKED ONLINE EDITOR LUKE GITTOS A SEXUAL CUCKSERVATIVE?], Return of Kings, Sep 4, 2013</ref>

===Free speech in universities===
It has campaigned against [[no platform]]ing and other actions which it sees as restricting freedom of speech on campuses; this includes defending the freedom of speech of very unpleasant people such as the [[British National Party|BNP]].<ref name=monbiot2003/><ref name=turner2010/> ''Spiked'' publishes the Free Speech University Rankings which rate universities as to how much they regulate speech. The scoring system deducts points if universities ban [[Antisemitism|anti-semitic]] speech, deliberate misgendering, transphobic material, offensive fancy dress, and secret dining clubs; anti-[[bullying]] and anti-harassment policies are also condemned as infringements on free speech.<ref>[https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/free-speech-university-rankings-2017-best-universities#survey-answer Free Speech University Rankings 2017: the best universities], ''Times Higher Education'', 10 Feb 2017</ref><ref>[https://thetab.com/uk/2018/02/06/spikeds-free-speech-uni-rankings-punish-unis-for-banning-anti-semitism-60038 Spiked’s Free Speech uni rankings punish unis for banning anti-Semitism], The Tab, 6 Feb 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/university-culture-free-speech-spiked-no-platforming-a7580041.html Here's why you shouldn't be outraged when you hear that over 60 per cent of UK universities 'severely restrict' free speech], Malia Bouattia, The Independent, 14 Feb 2017</ref><ref>[http://cherwell.org/2018/02/09/lgbtq-soc-slams-red-free-speech-ranking/ LGBTQ+ Soc slams red free speech ranking], Cherwell, 9 Feb 2018</ref><ref>[https://wonkhe.com/blogs/new-freedom-of-speech-rankings-just-too-subtle-and-nuanced/ New free speech rankings: possibly too subtle and nuanced?], Paul Greatrix, Wonkhe, 6 Feb 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/feb/02/free-speech-universities-spiked-ban-sombreros Free speech? Not at four in five UK universities], Louise Tickle, ''The Guardian'', 2 Feb 2015</ref>

However, the rankings' narrow focus ignores other pressures on free speech, such as the influence of commercial sponsorship, pressure from the press and politicians (e.g. the whip of the Conservative Party attempting to monitor what universities teach about [[Brexit]] in 2017<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/oct/24/universities-mccarthyism-mp-demands-list-brexit-chris-heaton-harris Universities deplore ‘McCarthyism’ as MP demands list of tutors lecturing on Brexit], ''The Guardian'', 24 Oct 2017</ref>), partnerships with undemocratic foreign governments such as overseas campuses, sacking or refusal of contract extensions for staff who criticise management, and the UK government's Prevent scheme which requires academics to report a wide variety of behaviours that might indicate potential [[Islamism|Islamic radicalism]] but which has been reported as leading to self-[[censorship]] when discussing [[Islam]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/29/prevent-scheme-fosters-fear-and-censorship-at-universities-just-yorkshire Prevent scheme 'fosters fear and censorship at universities'], ''The Guardian'', 29 Aug 2017</ref>

As of 15 January 2019, the free speech rankings website "is currently down for maintenance"; it is unclear if a new batch of ratings are being prepared.<ref>[https://www.spiked-online.com/free-speech-university-rankings/ Free Speech University Rankings], ''Spiked Online'', accessed 15 January 2019</ref>

Ultimately, the only free speech they seem to care about is the freedom to further marginalise folk that are already feeling the pain of marginalisation.<ref name=monbiot2018>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/07/us-billionaires-hard-right-britain-spiked-magazine-charles-david-koch-foundation How US billionaires are fuelling the hard-right cause in Britain], George Monbiot, ''The Guardian'', 7 Dec 2018</ref>

==Personnel==
* Frank Furedi: [[Hungarian]]-born sociologist, RCP leader, and founder of ''Spiked''. Furedi has worked for the Centre for Policy Studies, a think tank founded by Keith Joseph and [[Margaret Thatcher]], and written a book condemning the moral panic around the exposure of Jimmy Savile as a [[paedophile]].<ref name=monbiot2003/><ref name=moore2013/>
* Ann Furedi, a writer for ''Spiked'' and ''LM'' and chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service.<ref>{{wpa|Ann Furedi}}</ref>
* Mick Hume: former editor of ''LM'', later editor-at-large of ''Spiked'', and correspondent for ''The Times''. His books include ''There Is No Such Thing As a Free Press – and we need one more than ever'' (2012), an attack on press regulation in the UK.<ref>{{wpa|Mick Hume}}</ref>
* Brendan O'Neill: journalist; former editor of ''Spiked'' (2007–2021) and contributor to the ''Spectator'', ''The Guardian'', ''American Prospect'', ''Reason'', et al.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/global/2008/jun/03/brendanoneill Full profile: Brendan O'Neill], ''The Guardian'', 3 Jul 2008</ref><ref name=wilson2015>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/02/twitter-tyrants-and-social-justice-warriors-beware-the-libertarians-are-coming-for-you Twitter tyrants and social justice warriors beware! The libertarians are coming for you], Jason Wilson, ''The Guardian'', 2 Sep 2015</ref> Described by journalist Suzanne Moore as an "obnoxious intellectual wind-up merchant".<ref name=moore2013>[https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/mar/13/moral-crusades-frank-furedi-review Moral Crusades in an Age of Mistrust: the Jimmy Savile Scandal by Frank Furedi – review], Suzanne Moore, ''The Guardian'', 13 Mar 2013</ref>
* Claire Fox: a teacher, RCP member, ''LM'' contributor, founder of the Institute of Ideas, and a panellist on BBC Radio 4's ''Moral Maze''.<ref>{{wpa|Claire Fox}}</ref> She has defended the right to download child porn and the lyrics of reggae artist Beanie Man, which call for the murder of gay people.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/nov/19/comment.radio Infamy's child], Stuart Jeffries, ''The Guardian'', 19 Nov 2005</ref> Stood as a candidate for [[Nigel Farage]]'s [[Brexit Party]] in 2019, being elected to the European Parliament.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-48417394 European elections 2019: Brexit Party wins three North West seats], BBC, 27 May 2019</ref>
* Fiona Fox, Claire's sister, is involved in various organisations with links to ''Spiked''/''LM''.<ref>{{wpa|Claire Fox}}</ref> In 1995, she wrote an article in ''LM'' denying the [[Rwandan genocide]], attracting condemnation from the Simon Wiesenthal Center amongst others.<ref>[http://www.lobbywatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=337 Fiona Fox], Lobbywatch</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,3604,181819,00.html Genocide? What genocide?], The Guardian, 20 Mar 2000</ref>
* Rob Lyons: runs the Spiked website.<ref name=sourcewatch>[https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Spiked_Online Spiked Online], Sourcewatch, accessed 14 Jan 2019</ref> 
* James Heartfield: writer and academic, has written on [[imperialism]], creative industries, and [[intersectionality]].
* Phil Mullan: formerly registrant of Spiked's website.<ref name=monbiot2003/>
* Andrew Doyle: A douchebag "comedian" who came up with the persona of the infamous "Titania McGrath" supposedly as a way to mock the left.<ref>https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2019/03/titania-mcgrath-s-tired-and-unfunny-joke-just-old-sneering-young</ref><ref>https://www.spiked-online.com/2019/03/12/why-i-invented-titania-mcgrath/</ref>
* Tom Slater: current editor.<ref>[https://www.spiked-online.com/author/tom-slater/ Tom Slater,] ''Spiked''.</ref>

It publishes articles by people from right-wing [[think tank]] [[Institute of Economic Affairs]], [[Reason (magazine)|''Reason'' magazine]], and the [[Cato Institute]].<ref name=monbiot2018/>

==Related organisations==
It has links to several other associations and events, which are sometimes accused of forming a ''LM''/RCP network in British society<ref name=turner2010/>:
*The Institute of Ideas, founded in 2000 by Claire Fox and others, which ran the annual event Battle Of Ideas.<ref name=turner2010>[https://www.lrb.co.uk/v32/n13/jenny-turner/who-are-they Who Are They?], Jenny Turner, London Review of Books, Vol. 32 No. 13 (8 July 2010), pages 3-8</ref><ref name=pallister>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/jul/08/davidpallister.johnvidal1 Life after Living Marxism: Fighting for freedom - to offend, outrage and question everything], David Pallister, John Vidal and Kevin Maguire, ''The Guardian'', 8 July 2000</ref>
*[[Sense About Science]] (SAS), which has published work by Frank Furedi and is associated with several other ''Spiked'' and ''LM'' people. Tracey Brown of SAS wrote for ''LM'', ''Spiked'', and the Institute of Ideas.<ref name=monbiot2003/>
*Global Futures, a publisher which shared an address with SAS, published Frank Furedi, and whose trustees included ''Spiked'''s Phil Mullan.<ref name=monbiot2003/>
*Science Media Centre, ran by Fiona Fox and co-founded by [[Susan Greenfield]]<ref name=monbiot2018/> (known for her controversial opinions on how social networks and [[video games]] are rotting children's brains, and her dispute with her former employer the Royal Institute<ref>{{wpa|Susan Greenfield, Baroness Greenfield}}</ref>); funded in the past by pharmaceutical and chemical companies including Astra Zeneca, Dupont and Pfizer<ref name=monbiot2003/>
*The Manifesto Club, which fights "the hyper-regulation of public spaces."<ref name=monbiot2018/><ref>[http://manifestoclub.info/ Home Page], Manifesto Club website, accessed 14 Jan 2019</ref>

==Funding==
British eco-journalist George Monbiot (himself an eccentric combination of eco-warrior, anti-corporate campaigner, and nuclear power enthusiast) has claimed that it is funded by the [[Koch Industries|Koch brothers]], specifically stating that the Charles Koch Foundation has given US$300,000 to its American subsidiary Spiked US Inc.<ref name=monbiot2018>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/07/us-billionaires-hard-right-britain-spiked-magazine-charles-david-koch-foundation How US billionaires are fuelling the hard-right cause in Britain], George Monbiot, ''The Guardian'', 7 Dec 2018</ref> Monbiot freely admits to years of conflict with ''Spiked'' owing to its opposition to environmentalism and the green movement.<ref name=monbiot2003>[https://www.monbiot.com/2003/12/09/invasion-of-the-entryists/ Invasion of the Entryists], George Monbiot, ''The Guardian'', 9 Dec 2003, republished on monbiot.com</ref> 

''Spiked'' editor at the time, Brendan O'Neill, himself freely admitted that they had received such funding from the Charles Koch Foundation. He stated that this was for the purposes of "[[free speech]]" and that the Foundation "supports projects from diverse viewpoints, on both the left and the right", also having given money to the [[Washington, D.C.]] area [[ACLU]] for instance.<ref>Brendan O'Neill (December 3, 2018). [https://web.archive.org/web/20190331165917/https://www.spiked-online.com/2018/12/03/the-new-mccarthyism-is-ruining-public-life/ "The New McCarthyism is ruining public life"]. ''Spiked''.</ref>

There were earlier questions over the funding of ''LM'', which seemed to do quite well despite having only 10,000 subscribers, and ''Living Marxism'', which only had 3000 subscribers.<ref name=pallister/> Whether the funding came from wealthy communists or libertarians is unclear.

==External links==
*[https://spiked-online.com Official website]
==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Antifeminism]]
[[Category:British media]]
[[Category:Denialist websites]]
[[Category:Global warming denialists]]
[[Category:Kochsphere]]
[[Category:Leftists who turned right with age]]
[[Category:Websites]]

Categories: Antifeminism, British media, Denialist websites, Global warming denialists, Kochsphere, Leftists who turned right with age, Websites