British Thought Leaders

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with Allen Zeng, journalist, commentator, and presenter of podcasts Fang Wei Time and Good Morning China. Zeng says commentators in the West struggle to understand the machinations of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He also talks more broadly about the future of China and how the CCP has hoodwinked the world with its approach to business, media, and politics.

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, the director of Don’t Divide Us, to talk about the Equality Act. Sehgal Cuthbert says this law is breaking down Britain’s workplace civility and creating a grievance culture, resulting in a big rise in tribunals—most of which are rejected. She says the Act is used to police our relationships in the workplace and is a legal embodiment of the push for a multicultural Britain.

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with Helena Ivanov, an associate fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, to talk about the deepening crisis of trust in nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Ivanov says that erosion of trust threatens their ability to operate effectively and help the people they are supposed to serve. She also talks about how authoritarian regimes see the gap left by these NGOs as an opportunity.

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with author Ben Cobley to talk about progressive ideology and how it has infiltrated Western society, from government and business to the arts.

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with author Philip Womack to discuss his recent piece on a study that yielded concerning results regarding the cognitive abilities of young people. Womack talks about why reading is important for youngsters and the stark consequences of a post-literate generation ruled by technology.

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with "godfather of microplastics" professor Richard Thompson OBE to talk about the massive amounts of plastic in our oceans, how product design changes could make a significant difference to plastic pollution, and the importance of cooperation between policymakers, profit-seekers, and scientists to protect our environment.

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with Dr. Malcolm Kendrick for the second half of his interview. Kendrick says the world of medical research can no longer be trusted, a view echoed by editors of some of the world’s leading medical journals. He discusses how money distorts medicine, and what steps can be taken to see through the hype.

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with former head of UK Border Force Tony Smith to talk about enforcing our borders. Smith says the people-smuggling criminal gangs are currently winning the battle and talks about how their business model could be broken. He says those who enter illegally are not subject to the same thorough checks as legal migrants, and discusses how terrorism impacts the safety of our borders.

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with former member of Parliament Douglas Carswell to discuss his recently published set of milestones to restore Britain. Carswell talks about taking control of the machinery of state, fixing a broken legal system, securing borders, stopping mass immigration, and reducing public spending.

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with male suicide researcher Dr. Susie Bennett, who says we need to pay more attention to Britain’s biggest killer of men under 50. Bennett talks about the drivers behind Britain’s suicide figures, the conversations she’s had with men who have contemplated ending their lives, and the importance of building empathy for men as well as boys.

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with men’s rights expert Rick Bradford, who writes under the pen name William Collins. Bradford says identity politics has infiltrated many aspects of British life and is destroying the very fabric of our society. He talks about his research into the disadvantages faced by men and boys amid the "acceptable prejudice" of institutionalized misandry.

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with AI safety expert professor Roman Yampolskiy, who says we are only a couple of years away from AI superintelligence that will endanger humanity. Yampolskiy says the companies developing AI are aware of the danger, but are driven by technological competition and profit. He says we have no way to predict or control intelligence that is beyond our own.

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association. Kill says Britain’s night time industries face existential issues as many people can no longer afford to go out. The industry employs more than 2 million people and boasts a turnover of more than 150 billion pounds, so losing its nightlife would have serious consequences for Britain’s economy and culture.