Does the Equality Act Deliver Fairness, or Does It Encourage Grievance Culture?The Equality Act has shaped discrimination policy in the UK for over a decade, but critics argue it fuels division, identity politics, and a grievance culture. Supporters, meanwhile, say it is a vital shield protecting people from discrimination.Panellists:Audrey Ludwig – Recently retired legal aid discrimination lawyer, Audrey worked for years in an East Anglia law centre, representing thousands of low-income clients facing discrimination across all nine protected characteristics.Joanna Williams – Author, academic, and commentator, Joanna has written extensively on education, culture, and politics. She questions whether the Equality Act has shifted from ensuring equality of opportunity to enforcing equality of outcome.

About us:The Equiano Project, founded in August 2020 by Inaya Folarin Iman, is a debate, discussion, and ideas forum. We facilitate conversations about and promote the values of freedom, common humanity, and universalism.Join our supporters – click the link to donate to our work!https://www.theequianoproject.com/donate

In this episode of The Flip Side, we explore the rise of the so-called “woke right”. This is a term sparking debate in both the UK and US. Guests Ben Habib, Professor Timothy Lynch, and Gawain Towler discuss splits on the right, purity tests, free speech double standards, and whether the right is now using the same tactics as the left.Panellists:Ben Habib – Businessman and former Reform UK MEP, Ben is the founder of Advance UK. Professor Timothy Lynch – Political scientist specialising in conservatism and Anglo-American politics.Gawain Towler – Former head of press for UKIP, the Brexit Party, and Reform UK, Gawain has decades of experience in Westminster politics.

Hosted in two parts by Inaya Folarin Iman and Ada Akpala.

In this special episode of The Flip Side, we dive into one of the most divisive and essential debates in modern Britain: Civic Nationalism vs Ethnic Nationalism.We’re joined by two powerful thinkers offering contrasting views:

- Albie Amankona – Broadcaster and founder of Conservatives Against Racism for Equality (CARE), Albie advocates for a civic nationalist vision of Englishness, rooted in integration, shared culture, and liberal democratic values — not solely race or ancestry.

- Laurie Wastell – Writer and editor at The Daily Sceptic, Laurie presents a case for the importance of ethno-cultural continuity. He contends that shared ancestry, historical memory, and cultural roots have long underpinned national cohesion, and warns that rapid demographic change could undermine trust, stability, and belonging in Britain.
About us:The Equiano Project, founded in August 2020 by Inaya Folarin Iman, is a debate, discussion, and ideas forum. We facilitate conversations about and promote the values of freedom, common humanity, and universalism.

Is multiculturalism a strength or is it still a source of social fragmentation?In this in-depth and provocative debate, Tariq Modood defends multiculturalism as a framework for inclusive citizenship and national identity, while Alka Sehgal Cuthbert challenges it—arguing that it undermines democracy, weakens social cohesion, and displaces real issues like class and shared civic values.Panellists:- Tariq Modood, professor of sociology and founding director of the Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Citizenship.- Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, writer, educator, and director of Don’t Divide Us.About us:The Equiano Project, founded in August 2020 by Inaya Folarin Iman, is a debate, discussion, and ideas forum. We facilitate conversations about and promote the values of freedom, common humanity, and universalism.

Immigration has become one of the defining, and most divisive, issues in British public life.

Some see it as a source of economic dynamism, cultural enrichment, and global relevance. Others see it as a driver of rapid social change, rising pressure on public services, and a challenge to national cohesion.

This episode of The Flip Side Podcast, chaired by Ada Akpala, features a frank and at times tense exchange between two voices on opposing sides of the UK immigration debate.

Panellists:

• Jonathan Portes, economist and longtime defender of liberal immigration policies, argues that migration brings prosperity, productivity, and fiscal benefit to the UK.

• Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control, believes mass immigration has led to social fragmentation, economic strain, and widespread public disillusionment.

About us:The Equiano Project, founded in August 2020 by Inaya Folarin Iman, is a debate, discussion, and ideas forum. We facilitate conversations about and promote the values of freedom, common humanity, and universalism.Join our supporters – click the link to donate to our work!https://www.theequianoproject.com/donateConnect with The Equiano Project: https://x.com/EquianoProject https://www.facebook.com/TheEquianoProjecthttps://www.instagram.com/theequianoprojecthttps://theequianoproject.substack.com

Knife crime among young black men in the UK remains a highly sensitive topic.In this episode of The Flip Side, Inaya Folarin Iman hosts a heated and thought-provoking discussion with three guests who bring very different perspectives and experiences:

-Sheldon Thomas – former gang member and founder of Gangs Line Foundation Trust-Festus Akinbusoye – businessman and former Police and Crime Commissioner-Luke Gittos – criminal lawyer and director of Freedom Law ClinicTogether, they debate why young black men are disproportionately both victims and perpetrators of knife crime, and whether the root causes lie in systemic racism, cultural influences like drill music, absent fathers and family breakdown, or broader social and economic factors. They also confront uncomfortable questions about whether focusing on racism risks disempowering young black men, and if personal responsibility can truly overcome deeply entrenched social barriers.About us:The Equiano Project, founded in August 2020 by Inaya Folarin Iman, is a debate, discussion, and ideas forum. We facilitate conversations about and promote the values of freedom, common humanity, and universalism.Join our supporters – click the link to donate to our work!https://www.theequianoproject.com/donateConnect with The Equiano Project: https://x.com/EquianoProject https://www.facebook.com/TheEquianoProjecthttps://www.instagram.com/theequianoprojecthttps://theequianoproject.substack.com

Should Britain ban the burqa? Is the burqa a symbol of Islamic faith and freedom, or a tool of patriarchal oppression and a threat to public security? This compelling episode of The Flip Side dives deep into one of the most controversial debates facing Britain today: the tension between Islamic dress, women’s rights, religious freedom, and national security.As Britain grows increasingly diverse, questions about how to reconcile multiculturalism with liberal values are more urgent than ever. Is banning the burqa a step towards protecting women and promoting integration, or is it a dangerous infringement on personal liberty and freedom of religion?Our panellists:- Khadija KhanJournalist and broadcaster focused on women’s rights, extremism, freedom, and human rights.- Reem IbrahimCommunications manager and scholar at the Institute of Economic Affairs, a free-market libertarian think tank.About us: The Equiano Project, founded in August 2020 by Inaya Folarin Iman, is a debate, discussion, and ideas forum. We facilitate conversations about and promote the values of freedom, common humanity, and universalism.Join our supporters – click the link to donate!https://www.theequianoproject.com/donate

In this powerful launch conversation of The Flip Side podcast, Inaya Folarin Iman and Ada Akpala explore the importance of civil discourse, why society struggles to tolerate opposing views, and how we can disagree better. From free speech and identity politics to media bias and cultural polarisation, this episode goes deep on the issues that are shaping public discourse today.

About The Equiano Project: The Equiano Project, founded in August 2020 by Inaya Folarin Iman, is a debate, discussion, and ideas forum. We facilitate conversations about and promote the values of freedom, common humanity, and universalism.Join our supporters – click the link to donate!https://www.theequianoproject.com/donate