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Censoring other voices, no matter how offensive they may be, is an own goal for liberals everywhere, as displayed by the latest furore over Steve Bannon’s invitation to the New Yorker festival

Steve Bannon got all the publicity he could ever want from being invited to and then disinvited from the New Yorker festival Pic: Getty

What are the ingredients of a successful dinner party? Gore Vidal – a scribe who was no stranger to a good wingding – believed you should invite a couple of people no one knows well. That way, there’s a hint of mild intrigue, of spice. To which advice I’d add: consider bringing someone controversial.

Even though most of us won’t admit it, we all love a bit of drama at a party. We ...