By coincidence, a few days after Mr Brown’s speech, I was invited to Denmark to take part in an event that spoke directly to the former Prime Minister’s words.

And it’s something that may now be coming to Scotland.

Folkemødet – best translated as “the people’s meeting” –  takes place every year on a small Danish island in the middle of the Baltic Sea called Bornholm. Each June, thousands of Danes jump on a ferry from the mainland and descend on the picturesque fishing village of Allinge on the island’s northern shore. Here they are joined by Denmark’s entire political elite who decamp from Copenhagen. In gazebos and tents strewn along the coastline, political parties, think-tanks, public sector bodies, charities and businesses set up shop, holding panel discussions and debates on every subject under the sun – from prison reform to education, international security to the rise of AI.

That makes it sounds rather dry – Glastonbury for geeks. But wandering around the village, I found my cynicism gradually waning. It wasn’t just political nerds who turned up to take part: an estimated 65,000 Danes, including a huge number of young people, attended over the course of three days. Most remarkably, none of them paid for a ticket or passed through a security check in order to get in. Instead, people simply wandered down to the village and rubbed shoulders with the political and civic leaders they’d come to hear. Here was a demonstration of the public square being flooded by people who, by declaring themselves part of it, were able to make it safe and engaging. Here was Mr Brown’s “vacuum” being filled.

The event was a showcase in political pluralism. The event didn’t just invite progressive activists, corporate flunkies, and centrist dads like me to come and agree with each other. Everyone was here, and I mean everyone. For example, the country’s anti-immigrant populist party Dansk Folkeparti had pitched a tent next to that of Denmark’s Green party, with activists holding events within earshot of the other. Every political perspective from far-right to far-left was given space to set out their wares. The organisers set rules around respectful engagement, we were told, asking participants to keep things civil. By and large people and organisations seemed to accept that.

I was there with a small delegation from Scotland to ask a question: could we run a similar kind of event here? A small group of Scottish Daneophiles are hoping to do so. But is the country ready? The Danes might feel at home with political pluralism. But isn’t asking Scotland’s fractious political parties, their followers and the rest of us to share a weekend somewhere in Scotland a fools’ errand – the political equivalent of organising a quiz night for Celtic and Rangers ultras? You can see it now: the dainty notion of disagreeing agreeably disappearing along with the second pint of Tennent’s.

I put this question to Martijn Quinn, a Scottish civil servant at the European Commission who is currently consulting political parties and others about a potential Scottish event. He says:

Good politics comes from taking the time for serious discussion, listening to other points of view and working together to resolve differences. Looking at different approaches makes for better decisions. Of course Scotland is very different from Denmark, but I am sure that Scots would also enjoy talking politics over a beer or two in a relaxed and beautiful location.

The aim is to hold the first Scottish event in the summer of 2027 in a rural location – the destination hasn’t yet been settled on, though getting away from Edinburgh and Glasgow is a must. Equally crucial to its success will be gaining cross party support so that it is seen as a truly non-partisan event. I hope all our parties in Scotland are prepared to give it their backing.

Like the Danes, we need to reclaim our public square from those whose abuse and aggression deters the rest of us from venturing out. We would benefit hugely from an event which compels attendees to hear different points of view and engage with them. And Scotland has plenty of beautiful spaces. Truly, we are spoilt for choice.

We need events like Folkemødet to uphold the values of free speech and free association. We need political events that don’t just involve members of the political elite talking only to themselves. And our politicians would also benefit from a weekend where they take the risk of being curious.

We should do this.

This blog was cross posted from the John Smith Centre website.

First published: 20 August 2025

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