Professor John Middleton from the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (Tuesday’s Plenary Session) will examine the current geopolitical climate that thrives on increasing inequalities in health, accelerated by offshoring of wealth; the information revolution has allowed unaccountable oligarchs to undermine democracy and infiltrate political thinking in all administrations. Corruption, neoliberal and populist doctrines normalise suppression of rights and undermine values of human solidarity, collective action and caring. Populist politics create illusory individual freedoms, and when these do not deliver better outcomes, personal frustrations, alienation and isolation lead to chaotic and violent responses from society. Police and public health bear the consequences.