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.