Ben Cobley
author, The Tribe: the liberal-left and the system of diversity; public speaker; former Labour Party activist

Ben Cobley is a writer and journalist, specialising in progressivism and identity politics. He first started to critique the latter in 2011 as a Labour Party activist. This interest eventually led him out of the party and to write his first book, The Tribe, published in 2018. In this work he developed a theory of diversity as a system of conformity – indeed as a form of society in its own right. In 2024, his second book will be published, entitled The Progress Factory. This will look at progressivism as a form of domination and colonisation, conferring authority based on apparent knowledge of history and the future.

Having started off writing for LabourList, Ben has since written for Unherd, The Spectator, The Critic, Quillette and the New Statesman. He has spoken at the Academy of Ideas’ Academy and The Battle of Ideas. He debated in favour of Brexit at the London School of Economics and has presented his ideas in talks at Cambridge University and to Labour MPs in Parliament.

Follow Ben on Twitter: @bencobley

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