The passage beginning at 53:20 is the most emotional I have ever seen Peter in public. This is a guy who published his first book on the destruction of liberty, country and family in 1999 and has had to endure an onslaught of vitriol and slurs from his enemies and scoffs and indifference from those who should have been his allies. I feel as though this passage channels the past twenty five years of having to watch in anguish as the country he loves is reduced to ash and being the lone voice against it. We owe this man so much.

He's truly devastated at the relentless and remorseless destruction of everything he knows and loves; and I wholeheartedly share in his grief.

What a heartfelt and powerful piece of oratory by Peter, such a shame that almost everything he has warned against over the last 20 years has been ignored by our politicians.

Daniel Hannan goes on to prove Hitchens absolutely right about modern Tories.

At 54:40, Peter says all that remains is to live life in internal exile, enjoying what remains of the country we once knew. At age 67, I am coming to the view that I have to stop railing against things. We have lost. I am wasting my time. I shall devote my energies to creative pursuits , art, science, mathematics, foreign languages, and travel before they make that impossible. Stopping the fight makes me feel guilty. I see Peter's emotion, and am thankful that he is still spreading truth.

Hannan is a perfect example of what Peter articulates so well, there isn't a single conservative left in the Tory party.

Lots of "sensible” Tories used to mock Peter Hitchens for his pessimism and accuse him of being a crank. They don't mock him any longer.

"Amen", I say to the honorable Mr. Hitchens. A powerful speech that made me a bit misty-eyed, I must confess. I speak for some others here in the US in saying that I sincerely hope Britain finds its way. I wish the same for my own country.

Peter, you are the voice of a lost tribe of whom I am one. That oratory had my eyes welling up. I'm a Scotsman living in Sofia, Bulgaria and my 7 year old daughter calls you 'Peter the Pigeon'. She was beside me watching cartoons as I listened to your closing piece and she noticed my moist eyes. "Daddy, why are you crying at Peter the Pigeon?" she asked. "I'll tell you one day sweetheart" I replied.

With regard to Hannan, I’m reminded of G.K. Chesterton’s observation that tolerance is the attitude of those who do not believe in anything.

Here for Peter Hitchens. Who on earth is going to replace this great man when he departs this mortal coil?

Fantastic speech by Peter, unparalleled in his genuine love for this land and culture

Thank you for remembering Sir Roger! I miss him... prayers from an Indian Reservation in North Dakota! Keep rolling! Objective reality lives!

Hannon’s strange, even bullying insistence that Mr. Hitchens “be positive” was creepy. It’s part and parcel of the “conservative progressivism” of many modern conservatives. Such modern conservatives have little grasp of the eternal verities that Hitchens was articulating. As a result they confuse optimism with Hope and are idolatrous about politics.

Loved Sir Roger.What a gentle and brave soul.He has been proved right because look what has happened.

Brilliant speech from Peter Hitchens. This should be taught in schools. It will be in future.

Thoroughly moved by Mr. Hitchens’ analysis of the state of conservatism in Britain. An excellent speech, one of the best I’ve heard from him. I cannot claim to agree with him on everything, but he is one always worth listening to. He is vital to the debate because you know he has thought carefully and considered rigorously every word he utters. God bless you Peter. Keep up the good fight.

Peters oratory at its best is always edgy, informative, melancholy, and as the closing hymn demonstrates, can be extremely moving. That is without doubt the most emotional I have ever seen Peter and I have to admit, my eyes became moist. There is something profound in witnessing a man of immense emotion restraint wobble like that. This man obviously cares deeply about his country and I share that sentiment completely. I’m just glad that my Grandparents are not here to witness what a mess we have made.

A greatly articulate and historical speech from Mr Hitchens. To close with an emotional prayer in sentiment with our country. With an interpretation to continue a pursuit through younger generations.

I think this bloke basically demonstrated Hitchens' overall point. 🤔 Who cares how long it takes the average worker to save up for a television set (which is far from emergent technology) in an era whereby the only thing on said television is essentially 'progressive' propaganda..?

In answer to Daniel Hannan: Japan is an example of a country which had restrictions but no lockdown. It is also an example of a country which has little immigration. Not to say whether these things are right or wrong, but it’s a major country which is usually ignored.

Daniel Hannan is precisely the kind of conservative that Hitchens, Scruton, et al. have been opposing all this time.

Fortunate enough to watch it live and Peter was terrific.

Peter Hitchens in brilliant form as usual!!! The perfect speaker for a Roger Scruton memorial event!!! RIP Roger Scruton. 🙂🌞🌻💛🙏

Peter Hitchens is quite right in that The So Called Conservative party desperately needs to be got rid of and replaced by a real Conservative party

Excellent lecture by Peter Hitchens we live in a Triggers broom society that looks the same despite having a dozen new heads and a dozen new handles. The departments and institutions are still there but in name only.

My experience of having been a member of the Conservative Party is exactly the same as Peter's. It is not in the slightest interested in the opinions or policy suggestions of members. It is therefore a complete waste of time and ink even writing to one's conservative MP. I quit during the lockdowns and will never vote Conservative again. I incline now to the Hitchenite view: The Conservative Party must die in order that a proper conservative party, whatever it may be called, may rise from the ashes.

I feel so sorry for Peter Hitchens: he explains for an hour what is wrong with the foundations of Britain and the West in general, and all this fellow "conservative" is able to respond is, in a nutshell, that nowadays a television set is cheaper than fifty years ago... Hitchens was visibly irritated by that, but I think such nonsense sadly is the best he has got over the last twenty years.

Hitchens: Our elite institutions have traded our birthright for empty-souled globalism. Hannan: Yes, but have you considered that the average englishman in 2007 had to travel 33 minutes for a decent curry... but that time is now reduced to 3.5 minutes! Progress!

This is Peter Hitchens at his very best. Hauntingly true words. As an American, I see so many similarities between our countries. The way he feels for his beloved Britain is the way I feel for my beloved America. That underneath his words is a deep and abiding belief in eternal consequences, adds such power to all that he says. The world is full of hopelessness and the political institutions we once belived in were corrupted long ago. The one hope that remains, and should always have been the only hope, is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I wish I had spoken more loudly when I said to Daniel Hannan 'You know so little about me'.

I wish I knew about this lecture so I could attend and pay my respects to Mr. Scruton. He was hounded and I have little doubt that his untimely death was a result of political and social persecution.

Peter’s speech is one of the greatest I’ve ever heard. The discussion at the end was interesting, but DH seemed to be taking the comparative, ‘third way’ tone, always designed to undermine anyone with conviction.

You get: Vibrant multicultural street food, Boa buns, Turkish BBQ, Singapore noodles, Thai, Kebabs, Hookah bars. What does it cost? Everything.

Something of a pity that Daniel Hannon has been gifted a permanent voice in British Government for the rest of his life whereas I'd really rather see and hear Peter Hitchens there instead.

Sounds like an old testament prophet; so inspiring! May God bless you

Whilst it is true that the principal political parties are hostile places for true conservatives, I genuinely believe that conservatism continues to live strongly in the hearts of our communities in the real world. A new rebellion to coalesce and mobilise this sentiment is overdue. Is there a selfless individual or two in our midst who will lead an uprising? Thank you Peter, for your unwavering voice and continued inspiration.

Peter is always entertaining, if somewhat meandering. That said , always a pleasant and rewarding journey .

Most impressive, from me over here in Manhattan. Grateful for the voice of Mr Hitchens.

'To live in internal exile'... My Dad said... 'I am not afraid of any priest.. I only fear God!'

Peter is amazing

Peter is so awesome.

Peter the great. Love Mail on Sunday and Talk Radio with MG

Dan Hannan is clearly a libertarian, not a conservative.

Hitchens is always eventually right about most things.

Hannan is intelligent enough to know that had he selected houses instead of TVs, then a house was certainly less expensive for a working man in 1971. Quite disengeuous of him.

For the tears I just cried, the grief remains

Remembering a truly great man. We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. Thanks master Roger, for lending us your shoulders.

Whether u like some of his views or not....he is a deep thinker and ethical fellow.

Peter Hitchens remains the only man with a real understanding of what has happened to our country. What will be left when he is gone?

This should be mandatory listening for everyone.

Amen.. thank you 🙏

Per the latest (and probably last) report on foreign in UK from HM O.N.S. : Over 10M foreign born persons living in UK. Over 40% of persons living in London foreign born. How does that compare to other countries Mr. Hannan ?

So amazing to hear someone voice my thoughts and feelings …. Watching from Adelaide Australia 🕊🤍🕊

Hitchens on fire again

Not a lot of people joined in the ‘Amen’ at the end . It spoke volumes.

Peter puts his finger on the problem in British society. It is moral and spiritual. The answers will come from those who have had a moral and spiritual renewal - maybe starting in the book of Lamentations?

Proverbs 14.34 - 34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Unless I'm mistaking the figures, in England and Wales, there were roughly 141.82 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1920, while there were 343.88 abortions per 1,000 live births in 2021.

Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding, Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding, Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night, Saints with His mercy surrounding.

Daniel Hannan lives in a "classical liberal" dreamworld.

P.H is such a pleasure to listen too.

Hannan sees things entirely through economics and that which can be measured. In other words he misses (or seems to miss) an entire dimension of human experience - the moral, the religious, the aesthetic - and thus disqualifies himself from any just possession of the label 'conservative'. He would, I think, be more honest to identify as a classical liberal (less politely, a free market fanatic). The contrast between proper religious, Burkean, English conservatism (in Peter) and Thatcher Redux (in Hannan) could not have been more stark.

I was born during WWII and came through a period of austerity that has never, as yet, occurred again. Certainly my current life is one of financial prosperity but I am not sure the current quality of life is as good as it was during my youth. Quality of life surely is not one of affluence, nice though it is, but of freedom and peace of mine.

This man is peerless.

Couldn't the camera have focused more on Peter during the questions section?

Hannan demonstrates the modern, empty tory. Oh well we can get a lovely widescreen tv!

Wonderful 👍🏾

This man has more bravery in his nail filings than I do in my entire body.

We were never asked about White British replacement.

It all rests on denying that Britain has a native people. That is why it must be reestablished as the truth as the first step towards building Britain as a land - and people - to define it's own future. That does mean risk being lied about as racist, but as a people and it's land as a standard we would extend to any other part of the world, it will never be racist.

Hitchens is wasting his breath on Hannan. It’s absolutely clear it isn’t sinking in.

If there's a Hitchens speaking, I will listen ❤ Peter is fantastic! Christopher is a Hero ❤

AMEN... Peter Hitchens, a man who fears God, loves God, is a wise man.... "For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2:6 kjv

I thought the lecture was wonderful but frankly we could have done without the fast-moving conversation that didn’t seem to settle on anything in particular. People so often fall into the trap of assuming that if you criticise anything, you are expected to provide the solution. Why? Peter Hitchens is not putting himself forward for that job, but he has in no meaningful sense given up because he could just go away and live a quiet retirement, but he keeps speaking out about what he thinks. I believe he has said elsewhere that telling the truth is a good thing in itself. He reminds people that there is a different point of view. That you are now expected, however inexpert you are, to provide the remedy if you describe the illness, is another sign of the deteriorating quality of discourse. Thank you very much for these lectures.

Whether these levels of migration were of a similar scale to other countries is irrelevant. The question is: We’re the citizens of UK asked their opinion on it? Was the debate had? Did the government explain what their plan was?

God I remember when I was younger and more impressionable that I viewed Hannan as some sort of traditional conservative. I think I just fell for his accent.

"Luckily for me, I'll probably be dead before the new age begins in earnest" - cracks me up does that. 😂

A very enjoyable speech. Perhaps a better interviewer will be available next time.

I want Peter Hitchens to be wrong. Sadly I never seem to get what I want.

Amen

I wish Peter would write his atuo-biography, that would be a fascinating read, growing up with Christopher as an older brother; his time living in the soviet Russia ect If your reading this Mr H, get typing 👍

Hitchens is a great guy.

There should be a photo of Hannan beside the phrase "Someone who knows the price of everything & knows the value of absolutely nothing."

Nice to hear peters quote from Horiatius at the bridge, “for every man death comets, and what better way to die than in the defense of the ashes of our fathers and the temples of our gods”

Thank you for uploading this video - the speech by Peter was supreme. I read Roger Scruton ‘England - An Elegy’ and i very much enjoyed that book. I wish to read more of his literature and Peter’s as well. I think the book cited by the host Malcolm is also interesting for reasons stated - it sounded stimulating as described. The speech from Peter was an illustration that he (PH) has a sense of humour - that is i think deliberately attacked by a false caricature in the media. PH is mischaracterised as some kind of miserable pessimist - that is part of PH - no different in truth to all of us at one time or another depending on circumstance and what is actually occurring in our lives to our understanding and interpretation. You cannot be genuinely upset unless you care about improvements - PH is sincere, whether you agree or not is another matter. I think it was perhaps ironic (if that is the most accurate word) the mobile phone rings during his speech. PH mentions the period of Cameron coming in at 2010 and the very significant deterioration (to PH observations) from that time - which coincides with the advent of what is to this day perversely called - a mobile phone. The point being is that i think technology and advances in that sphere combined with the facts PH set out in the political/social landscape have amplified the intrusion on civil liberties to the point of some sort of end of an era basically. The idea that you can have contesting and conflicting views in public discourse that pertains to practicing freedoms of varying kind - to think - to speak - to congregate and act without any sanctions/interference with such a combination of rapid social and political change/tolerances and the technological insertion of some sort of third limb almost that is simply impactful in ways that to my mind will become very clear to many at a latter point - is i think fanciful. The essential tenets of a democracy are to peacefully engage in contesting and conflicting views that pertain to argument. It is astonishing that the very word ‘argument’ - conjurers up some notion of a menace or dissenter or threat in some way - everything you see around you is borne out of that so called threat - it is to argue a case and to provide an alternative to what is otherwise being proposed that leads to civilisation. The alternative is violence. There are others - subversive and sort of seditious kinds that i think pertain to this rapid technological period from the advent of the internet and specifically the smart phone. The positive that is less discussed is that young people and older people to a lesser degree have access to technology that is also for very good outcomes. The ability to capture new audiences and share experiences and thoughts is i think noteworthy. The countenance is when the state hone in to disable some sort of perceived threat as highlighted by PH of some blogger. My admiration for a free speech union like Toby Young is very meaningful. I think that sort of actuality should not limit itself in anyway to simply speech per say. I think it is vital that people are permitted to have an outlet for there views in both a technological sense and vitally - through the ballot box. Those two amount to what separates the UK from effectively banana republics and authoritarian regimes we send our citizens into harms way to liberalise - yet we have at home our own discontent and i think that is our priority. Finally, i think i am utterly convinced that a coalition of sorts exists in public sentiment towards broadly an agenda of the Corbynista’s - hardly a surprise in these social and economic times - and, i think those on the other side of the political divide that want a crack at being an independent country. The benefits of Brexit have had a pandemic and then a severe financial/social crisis in short order to contend with. The calibre of Tony Benn of yesteryear and other big hitters in politics has been replaced with script readers and you could say - mere puppets that believe what they are told to believe. It will take awhile to update the state of affairs but it will also take less to see people overtly discontented if day to day life diminishes for large swathes of the population and this sense of unfairness and injustice becomes too much. I would be the obvious choice as PM - as i would be supreme. Outside of that, i think it is high time to stop being governed by those in the financial city who tell anyone who cares to listen - that without a administration that is with a majority etc - the markets will lose confidence and the pound will sink etc. It seems to me that if the last few years have shown anything it is that such talk is piffle. We are going through PM’s like confetti at a wedding. The facts are that Germany is a comparable country to ourselves and they have coalition’s - i don’t see why our electorate cannot be afforded 4 credible choices that are on the ballot paper and let people decide. The two parties are one big party. The choice that is required is a massive positive to facilitate and progressive and enlightened and necessary. PH need not be too pessimistic as i see from this dire period some sort of meaningful improvement to insert itself at some point. Thank you fir stimulating my brain - great speech but i cannot bear to listen to Hannan, i tuned in for the national treasure - PH who is tributing another Roger Scruton.

As a Londoner, I agree with Peter.

Please do something about the audio recording or mixing next time, there are parts which the speakers are far too quiet.

O God who art the author of peace, and lover of concord. In knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom. Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of thy enemies, that we, surely trusting in thy defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Insightful

Fascinating and powerful speech by Hitchens. Regarding the 'chat' I'd say Hitchens 1 : 0 Hanan. The presumptions in the questions only worked in patches.

He wasn't wrong about police, I've been out now 25 years, unrecognisable...

Like so many conservatives Hannan is angry because his dealer refuses to give him the cope he is addicted to.

I've long admired Hannan... but I have taken a different lesson from the last 15 years than he has.

Talk starts at 10:34

Does Hannah love the sound of his voice more than the content of what comes out

Why did Mr Hannan talk so much?

46:16 The first time I’ve ever heard Peter Hitchens swear

Perfect ending. Blessed be God forever, and blessed be His Holy Name!

Were any audience members desperate to ask any questions?? We’ll never know.