Leon Black
@drleonblack.bsky.social
Professor of Infrastructure Materials at the University of Leeds.
Posting about materials, resilience, circular economy, green stuff, and whatever else I stumble on that I find interesting.
No DMs, unless they're size 12 cherry reds.
Posting about materials, resilience, circular economy, green stuff, and whatever else I stumble on that I find interesting.
No DMs, unless they're size 12 cherry reds.
Pinned
Leon Black
@drleonblack.bsky.social
· Nov 15
It's that odd time, a few weeks after setting up a new social media account, when I ponder whether to post political rants, stupid jokes or thoughts around decarbonisation of infrastructure.
Reposted by Leon Black
Reposted by Leon Black
Reposted by Leon Black
Reposted by Leon Black
Reposted by Leon Black
Britain isn't broken.
You just hate multiculturalism and wish we were living in shitty 1942.
Be honest.
You just hate multiculturalism and wish we were living in shitty 1942.
Be honest.
January 19, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Britain isn't broken.
You just hate multiculturalism and wish we were living in shitty 1942.
Be honest.
You just hate multiculturalism and wish we were living in shitty 1942.
Be honest.
Reposted by Leon Black
Melted cheese has more calories than non melted cheese, despite it being the same amount of cheese.
January 19, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Melted cheese has more calories than non melted cheese, despite it being the same amount of cheese.
Reposted by Leon Black
This Europa League match on Thursday sounds like it’s going to be the friendliest in history.
January 19, 2026 at 8:55 PM
This Europa League match on Thursday sounds like it’s going to be the friendliest in history.
Reposted by Leon Black
The best way to read this is: "Myself and others on the fruitier side of the British right are terrified that our previous vocal support for Donald Trump is going to bite us viciously on the arse. There are skin diseases that poll better than he does in the UK."
January 19, 2026 at 8:04 PM
The best way to read this is: "Myself and others on the fruitier side of the British right are terrified that our previous vocal support for Donald Trump is going to bite us viciously on the arse. There are skin diseases that poll better than he does in the UK."
Reposted by Leon Black
NEW – Analysis: UK newspaper editorial opposition to climate action overtakes support for first time | @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social @sylviahayes.bsky.social
Read here: buff.ly/eAPkvkx
Read here: buff.ly/eAPkvkx
January 19, 2026 at 8:00 AM
NEW – Analysis: UK newspaper editorial opposition to climate action overtakes support for first time | @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social @sylviahayes.bsky.social
Read here: buff.ly/eAPkvkx
Read here: buff.ly/eAPkvkx
Reposted by Leon Black
The very stable geniuses of British politics should not be allowed to forget their sycophancy towards Trump.
January 18, 2026 at 8:40 PM
The very stable geniuses of British politics should not be allowed to forget their sycophancy towards Trump.
Reposted by Leon Black
All of these people - Mogg, Farage, Carswell, Jenrick, Hannan and the rest need to be forever reminded of what they backed and supported
January 18, 2026 at 5:41 PM
All of these people - Mogg, Farage, Carswell, Jenrick, Hannan and the rest need to be forever reminded of what they backed and supported
Reposted by Leon Black
Reminder of the spectacularly poor judgement of these people
January 18, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Reminder of the spectacularly poor judgement of these people
Reposted by Leon Black
Reposted by Leon Black
Reposted by Leon Black
Reposted by Leon Black
every provocateur who wangs on all the time about Britain being “broken” should be sent to an actual failed state or autocracy for a month as a learning experience, there’s no shortage of them
January 17, 2026 at 3:12 PM
every provocateur who wangs on all the time about Britain being “broken” should be sent to an actual failed state or autocracy for a month as a learning experience, there’s no shortage of them
Reposted by Leon Black
This opens up wider questions about how far the UK and Canada in the 5 eyes intel sharing framework as well as other former allies of the United States can still provide the Americans with any sensitive intelligence information at all
January 18, 2026 at 12:44 PM
This opens up wider questions about how far the UK and Canada in the 5 eyes intel sharing framework as well as other former allies of the United States can still provide the Americans with any sensitive intelligence information at all
Reposted by Leon Black
Oh this is good. This is very good.
January 9, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Oh this is good. This is very good.
Reposted by Leon Black
PLOT TWIST—The Nobel Peace Prize is booby-trapped. Upon lifting it from her hands, a gigantic boulder rolls forth and chases him down the hall. The trap door meant to safeguard against these exact circumstances malfunctions; when he hits the big red “open” button, he is delivered a diet coke instead
January 17, 2026 at 12:18 PM
PLOT TWIST—The Nobel Peace Prize is booby-trapped. Upon lifting it from her hands, a gigantic boulder rolls forth and chases him down the hall. The trap door meant to safeguard against these exact circumstances malfunctions; when he hits the big red “open” button, he is delivered a diet coke instead
Reposted by Leon Black
1/ Something which I don't think gets articulated clearly often enough is that a system where countries generally respect international sovereignty and territorial integrity is not pure charity or morality by the United States, but in its direct interests.
Despite it being the strongest bear.
Despite it being the strongest bear.
January 17, 2026 at 10:24 AM
1/ Something which I don't think gets articulated clearly often enough is that a system where countries generally respect international sovereignty and territorial integrity is not pure charity or morality by the United States, but in its direct interests.
Despite it being the strongest bear.
Despite it being the strongest bear.
So yesterday, I attended a lecture, had lunch with the speaker, walked back through Leeds city centre, had further meetings in work, then did the big shop.
About 11pm last night my wife asked if I'd really worn this jacket.
Thanks, kids.
About 11pm last night my wife asked if I'd really worn this jacket.
Thanks, kids.
January 17, 2026 at 12:34 PM
So yesterday, I attended a lecture, had lunch with the speaker, walked back through Leeds city centre, had further meetings in work, then did the big shop.
About 11pm last night my wife asked if I'd really worn this jacket.
Thanks, kids.
About 11pm last night my wife asked if I'd really worn this jacket.
Thanks, kids.
Reposted by Leon Black
It will not surprise you to learn that Toby Youngs 'Free Speech Union' has obtained a High Court injunction banning the publication of a list of its donors open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Who funds the Free Speech Union?
Toby Young’s outfit went to court to hide its donors. Today we reveal that funders include US anti-abortion groups, Brexit politicians and Tufton Street insiders.
open.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:45 AM
It will not surprise you to learn that Toby Youngs 'Free Speech Union' has obtained a High Court injunction banning the publication of a list of its donors open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Reposted by Leon Black
Those gasholder flats behind Kings Cross shaped to fit
January 17, 2026 at 8:08 AM
Those gasholder flats behind Kings Cross shaped to fit
Reposted by Leon Black
British education in a nutshell
January 17, 2026 at 10:33 AM
British education in a nutshell
Reposted by Leon Black
An entire generation has been saddled with enormous debt and hefty repayments, while they struggle with stagnant pay and soaring rents, making it nigh on impossible to save.
It is deeply unfair. We should be scrapping student loan debt and tuition fees
It is deeply unfair. We should be scrapping student loan debt and tuition fees
January 15, 2026 at 2:57 PM
An entire generation has been saddled with enormous debt and hefty repayments, while they struggle with stagnant pay and soaring rents, making it nigh on impossible to save.
It is deeply unfair. We should be scrapping student loan debt and tuition fees
It is deeply unfair. We should be scrapping student loan debt and tuition fees