Bed blockers and bigots: Have wrinklies cheated millennials?

Once respected for their wisdom and experience, the elderly are increasingly scorned as reactionaries who are a burden on public services. Issues from the housing crisis to Brexit are blamed on an older generation, accused of acting either out of self-interest or bigotry. On the other side, young people are celebrated in the media as liberal and forward-thinking. How have society’s attitudes to the elderly changed? And is it wise to view social issues as a generational conflict? Filmed at the Battle of Ideas 2017, the speakers are Hilary Salt, Professor Steve Fuller, Reuben Young and Alex Smith. The chair is Ginny Hume.

Battle of Ideas session details