Ella Whelan
co-convenor, Battle of Ideas festival; journalist; author, What Women Want

Ella Whelan is the co-convenor of the Battle of Ideas festival. She is a journalist and author of What Women Want: Fun, Freedom and an End to Feminism. Ella is also the author of The Case for Women’s Freedom, a Letter on Liberty published by the Academy of Ideas.

Ella is a columnist for spiked and a regular writer for the Telegraph. She regularly appears on TV and radio, including Question Time, Today, Moral Maze, Times Radio, Sky News, GMB, GB News, Any Questions, Politics Live, Channel 4 and others. She has written for The Critic, New Statesman, Sunday Times, The Economist, the Irish Times, the Sun, Conscience, Spectator, City AM, IBT, Grazia, Standpoint and others.

Follow Ella on X: @ella_m_whelan

RELATED SESSIONS

Saturday 17 October,  09:45 Assembly Hall, Church House
Battle of Ideas festival 2026 Welcome Address

Saturday 17 October, 10:15 Robert Runcie Room, Church House
Surrogacy: buying a baby or building a family?

Saturday 17 October, 13:45 Robert Runcie Room, Church House
FAFO parents and the return of Big Boss Mum

Saturday 17 October, 14:45 Council Room, Church House
Once upon a time: children’s literature and the culture wars

Saturday 17 October, 16:45 Assembly Hall, Church House
Should we tolerate the intolerant?

Sunday 18 October, 10:00 Hospitality Suite, Church House
Who would be a mum today?

Sunday 18 October, 13:45 Abbey Room, Church House
Letters on Liberty: Islamo-Leftism: new challenges to freedom

Sunday 18 October, 13:45 Convocation Hall, Church House
The great realignment: the rise and woes of populism

Sunday 18 October, 15:45 Hospitality Suite, Church House
Women betrayed: should we smash the unions and start again?