Paul is a civil servant who has lived in Leeds for over 25 years. He is a co-founder and organiser of The Leeds Salon public discussion forum, and writes regularly for its online journal Freedom in a Puritan Age and the Leeds-based Culture Vulture blog. He took part in the panel-debate Recession Proofing: From Union Militancy to Reskilling at the Battle of Ideas 2009. He has been a judge in the Academy of Ideas sixth-form Debating Matters competition since 2008, and helps chair and run competition events throughout the north of England. Using the DM format, Paul also runs the Headingley Festival of Ideas Schools Debating Competition for years 10 & 11 pupils.