Leeds graduate and award-winning journalist Gavin Esler to host lecture at the university

Leeds graduate and award-winning journalist Gavin Esler will be hosting a lecture at the University of Leeds, analysing the state of current politics and truth-telling in the public realm.

Gavin, who did a Master’s in Irish literature and is now a journalist, broadcaster and author, will be drawing on the findings of his recent book, Britain is Better Than This: Why a Great Country is Failing Us All.

The lecture forms part of IDEA The Ethics Centre’s 20th anniversary celebrations, marking 20 years of bringing ethics to life. It is a specialised unit for teaching, research, training and consultancy in applied ethics.

In a video on Instagram promoting the event, Gavin said: “I’m delighted to say I’m coming back to Leeds to give a talk based on my most recent book, Britain is Better Than This.

“I want to talk about why we’re such a wonderful country but failing in so many areas, in particular about the lying in our public life – the lying that blights our public life.”

Titled “Dead Cats, Strategic Lying & Truth Decay”, Gavin’s lecture will take place at 6pm on Tuesday 17th June at Cloth Hall Court. It is a free event and all are welcome, from staff and students to the general public.

Gavin is best known for presenting the BBC’s flagship Newsnight programme, having spent a number of years as the BBC’s Chief North American Correspondent, as well as reporting in other countries. He is the author of five novels and four non-fiction books, commenting on politics in the modern world.

Gavin has observed a decline in public trust for businesses, politicians and journalists, and will argue that this is due to what he terms “the politics of distraction”.

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The award-winning journalist will discuss how this weakening of confidence in people and institutions – “truth decay” – is eroding some of the core principles of democracy in the United Kingdom, the United States and elsewhere around the world.

Gavin will go on to suggest how both trust and truth can be reinforced and rebuilt into public life, backed by the findings of his recent book.

A place at the event can be booked via this link.

Featured image via TikTok/X