Skip to content Accessibility statement

York Union lines up top speakers

News

Posted on Thursday 4 February 2016

The student-run York Union will host speakers including Trevor Phillips OBE, author David Goodhart and historian Sir Anthony Seldon this term.

A headline debate on Britain and multiculturalism, fronted by Trevor Phillips OBE, former head of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and now president of the John Lewis partnership council, will take place on Thursday 11 February. It will also feature David Goodhart, leading multiculturalist Professor Tariq Modood and Guardian journalist Zoe Williams.

A debate on whether freedom of expression is under threat at British Universities will take place on Thursday 23 February.

Sir Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, will close the spring term programme at an event onWednesday 2 March.

Founded in 2013, the York Union has hosted guests including Jon Snow, Adam Boulton, Alastair Campbell, Jonathan Powell, Baroness Scotland, Dominic Grieve, Shami Chakrabarti and Lord Robert Winston. Panel debates have discussed topics as diverse as religion, the happiness agenda, Thatcherism, immigration and the welfare state.

Further information

Explore more news

News

12 May 2026

Imagine walking down the high street and feeling a powerful spark of recognition for almost every person you pass.

News

8 May 2026

University of York students contributed more than 90,000 hours of service to the City over the last year, providing a vital economic and social boost to the region.

News

5 May 2026

Researchers are transforming access to some of the world’s oldest written records using digital technology and multilingual tools.

News

5 May 2026

Two leading academics are preparing to take up secondments to the University of York Mumbai to establish new partnerships and support new degree programmes.

News

30 April 2026

Scientists have shown that evolution has been using the same genetic ‘cheat sheet’ for over 120 million years, suggesting that life on earth may be more predictable than first imagined.

Read more news