Legatum Institute Foundation

The mayor’s lecture examined how the experiences of democrats in the 5th century BC can help us to preserve London’s unique metropolitan character today. He warned against “the challenge, global in its extent, to democratic freedoms. We must fight these enemies”, and defend democracy, the rule of law and an open welcome to talented incomers that made Athens the eternal glory of the Western world – in stark opposition to the "ghastly, self-whipping, olive-spitting, xenophobic Spartans".