Co-founder @theleedssalon, volunteer @DebatingMatters, Steering Committee @LeedsLit Fest, Ambassador @STEMLearningUK, free speech champion and radical democrat.
Leeds
Joined January 2012
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Paul Thomas retweeted
VIBE SHIFT WITH BRENDAN O'NEILL🚨
📅28/10/26 📍LEEDS
#BattleFest doesn't stop just because our London event has.
In Leeds, Brendan O’Neill will argue that ‘a seismic turn in the moral zeitgeist brought about by popular discontent with the old, knackered order’, is emerging.
But is O’Neill right? Or does he exaggerate or romanticise what often appear disparate protests around a range of unconnected issues. There’s now even a backlash against the backlash.
Satellite in association with @theleedssalon
🎟️👇
battleofideas.org.uk/session…
Reminder for next Leeds Salon with Brendan O'Neill @spikedonline on his new book 'Vibe Shift: The Revolt Against Wokeness, Greenism & Technology', Wed 28 Oct @carriageworks_ 7pm. This is @acadofideas
Battle of Idea 2026 satellite event #BattleFest. Visit leedssalon.org.uk
The next @theleedssalon welcomes back @spikedonline's Brendan O'Neill on new book 'Vibe Shift: The Revolt Against Wokeness, Greenism & Technology', Wed 28 Oct @carriageworks_ 7pm. This is @acadofideas Battle of Idea 2026 satellite event #BattleFest. Visit leedssalon.org.uk/
The next @theleedssalon welcomes back @spikedonline's Brendan O'Neill on new book 'Vibe Shift: The Revolt Against Wokeness, Greenism & Technology', Wed 28 Oct @carriageworks_ 7pm. This is @acadofideas Battle of Idea 2026 satellite event #BattleFest. Visit leedssalon.org.uk/
Paul Thomas retweeted
The BATTLE OF IDEAS is about to RETURN!
I'm building a team of volunteers to run the festival on 17th & 18th October. Volunteers get FREE tickets, backstage access & great experience - all ages, all abilities welcome.
What are you waiting for? Join us: battleofideas.org.uk/volunte…
Paul Thomas retweeted
"The barriers to entry for political parties are massive. If we want to break through, we have to be exceptional"
Sebastian Moore announces his bid to become leader of the SDP.
#moore4sdp
Paul Thomas retweeted
We must not let a “social media ban” become Digital ID by the back door.
Protect privacy. Protect the open internet.
@FabianLeedsNE
#DontIDTheInternet
dontidtheinternet.com
Reminder for next @theleedssalon Salon, our second as part of @LeedsLit Fest 2026, when author of forthcoming book on the International Brigade @michaelcrowley will introduce ‘ORWELL AND SPAIN: THE BIRTH OF A DYTOPIA' at @MillHillCHapel, Wed 10 June, 7pm: leedssalon.org.uk
Second @theleedssalon as part of @LeedsLit Fest 2026 looks at ‘Orwell & Spain: The Birth of a Dystopia’ with writer, dramatist and author of a forthcoming book on the International Brigade @michael1crowley, at @MillHillChapel, Wed 10 June from 7pm.Visit leedssalon.org.uk/
ALT Statue of George Orwell (2018) by Ben Sutherland from Crystal Palace, London, UK via Wikimedia Commons
Reminder for next @theleedssalon as part of
@LeedsLit Fest 2026 on ‘Why Read Plato’s Republic Today?’ with founder of Classical Philosophy Reading Group Dave Perks at @MillHillChapel, Sat 6 June from 2:30pm. Visit leedssalon.org.uk
First @theleedssalon as part of @LeedsLit Fest 2026 asks ‘Why Read Plato’s Republic Today?’ with former Principal of East London Science School & founder of Classical Philosophy Reading Group Dave Perks at @MillHillChapel, Sat 6 June from 2:30pm. Visit leedssalon.org.uk/
ALT An Illustration of The Allegory of the Cave, from Plato's Republic by 4edges free on Wikimedia Commons
Second @theleedssalon as part of @LeedsLit Fest 2026 looks at ‘Orwell & Spain: The Birth of a Dystopia’ with writer, dramatist and author of a forthcoming book on the International Brigade @michael1crowley, at @MillHillChapel, Wed 10 June from 7pm.Visit leedssalon.org.uk/
ALT Statue of George Orwell (2018) by Ben Sutherland from Crystal Palace, London, UK via Wikimedia Commons
First @theleedssalon as part of @LeedsLit Fest 2026 asks ‘Why Read Plato’s Republic Today?’ with former Principal of East London Science School & founder of Classical Philosophy Reading Group Dave Perks at @MillHillChapel, Sat 6 June from 2:30pm. Visit leedssalon.org.uk/
ALT An Illustration of The Allegory of the Cave, from Plato's Republic by 4edges free on Wikimedia Commons
Is Christianity making a comeback? Does freedom from religion entail a loss of purpose? Or can we discover meaning for ourselves? The next @theleedssalon examines 'Christianity & Existential Freedom' with author Dolan Cummings on Sat 9 May, 2:30pm @MillHillChapel
The next @theleedssalon is looking at ‘Christianity and Existential Freedom’, introduced by author and essayist Dolan Cummings at @MillHillChapel on Saturday 9th May, 2:30pm – 4pm. See full details at leedssalon.org.uk
ALT Mill Hill Chapel Internal by Oddball Studio
Paul Thomas retweeted
Leeds Salon - Christianity and existential freedom w/ AOI Fellow Dolan Cummings - 9th May✝️⛓️
Is Christianity making a comeback, or are a few youthful church-goers just a blip in the steady decline of all religion? Does freedom from religion entail a loss of purpose? Or can we discover meaning for ourselves?
Tickets and details @theleedssalon 👇
leedssalon.org.uk/discussion…
Dave Perks will be discussing 'Why Read Plato's Republic Today?' for @theleedssalon as part of @LeedsLit Fest on Sat 6 June.
Self-loathing and the war on the classics by David Perks
Recently, the government’s announcement of plans to reduce the number of trials by jury, alongside the recent lecture named ‘Why I hate Classical Civilisation’ by Sir Grayson Perry at Kings College London, have highlighted the continued tilt away from Greek civilisational ideas in modern politics...
open.substack.com/pub/claire…
The next @theleedssalon is looking at ‘Christianity and Existential Freedom’, introduced by author and essayist Dolan Cummings at @MillHillChapel on Saturday 9th May, 2:30pm – 4pm. See full details at leedssalon.org.uk
ALT Mill Hill Chapel Internal by Oddball Studio
Paul Thomas retweeted
The final @WBD_UK / @theleedssalon Yrs10&11 Debating Competition 2026 took place 1 April at WBD Leeds office. Congrats winners Carr Manor Community School @carr_manor. Well done too runners-up @guiseleyschool and the other finalists @abgacademy and @MSMHub.
The final @WBD_UK / @theleedssalon Yrs10&11 Debating Competition 2026 took place 1 April at WBD Leeds office. Congrats winners Carr Manor Community School @carr_manor. Well done too runners-up @guiseleyschool and the other finalists @abgacademy and @MSMHub.
Thanks judges John Connor & Razvan Popa @WBD_UK, Nat Edwards @Royal_Armouries, Robbie Arrell & Ruby Hornsby @IDEA_Leeds @UniversityLeeds, @JustineBrian @Civitas_UK & @DebatingMatters, Tarjinder Gill @teach_well, @russthomas76 @HMRCgovuk, @CaswellJo & @danclayton75 @theleedssalon
Thank you to Prize Sponsors of @WBD_UK / @theleedssalon Yrs10&11 Debating Competition Final 2026: @Royal_Armouries Museum (Leeds); IDEA: The Ethics Centre @IDEA_Leeds @UniversityLeeds; @UKREiiF; and @DebatingMatters whose format we also use.
