About
I joined the Department of Politics as a Lecturer in Political Communication in September 2015, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in 2018. Prior to joining Liverpool I was a Research and Teaching Fellow at the University of Leeds (POLIS) with particular focus on British Foreign Policy, Research Methods and Study Skills, and British Political Ideologies. Prior to this I was awarded my PhD in 2011 under the supervision of Prof Brendan Evans and Prof Jim McAuley.
My research specialises in political communication, Parliamentary behaviour, and UK political institutions. My scholarship has appeared in 30+ world leading international journals; 10+(co)-authored/edited books; and 12+ chapters for academic collections. I have also submitted published evidence based on my research to House of Commons Select Committees on the quality of political discourse and how it might be improved to ensure democratic norms are protected. This demonstrates the political value of my published scholarship to communication and democratic discourse.
In June 2024, I completed a term as a Trustee on the Political Studies Association (PSA) Executive Committee, whereby I coordinated a national competition of A-level students on what politics means to the next generation. Alongside this, I am a co-convenor (with David Jeffery, Zeena Mistry, Hull, and Christopher Fear, Hull) of the PSA Politics of the Right Specialist Group and (with Sophia Hatzisavvidou, Bath) co-convenor of the PSA Specialist Group in 'Rhetoric, Discourse, and Politics'.. In 2017 I won the prestigious PSA 'Richard Rose Prize' for my "doubly pioneering" research into the study of British Politics. In the same year I also won a Learning and Teaching Team award, as well as a commendation for public engagement with the Europe and the World Centre.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Fellow of the HEA Advance-HE having completed a qualification in Professional Higher Education Practice. In July 2024, I graduated with an MA in Academic Practice which focused on technology in education and the use of frameworks in student skills development. Prior to this, I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Academic Practice (Merit) in 2021 with a particular focus on leadership and teaching innovations within political studies. Both qualifications updated my previous qualification in Higher Education practice and included updates on innovations approaches to authentic teaching in module and assessment design.
My teaching modules spread across each learning level of the undergraduate programme. For example, I am the module leader of the large first year module POLI101 Introduction to British Politics, which introduces students to UK parties, rhetoric, gendered issues, media relations, general elections, and foreign policy. I also convene two signature modules looking at political communication. The first specialist module (POLI252 Political Communication and Public Speaking) offers students practical experience of speech writing and delivery on a political issue that they are passionate. The second specialist module (POLI323 Theory and Practice of Rhetoric in British Politics) links ancient rhetorical theories with contemporary practice in the UK. The module covers critical discourse analysis, oratorical arenas, and drivers of ideological language. I am also the module leader of a team-taught second year module (POLI263 British Foreign Policy) which looks at Britain's historical and contemporary global roles.
I have also examined internal and external doctoral vivas on subjects such as Northern Ireland political parties and their depths of support; Jeremy Corbyn's leadership style of the Labour Party, alongside supervising doctoral research on political attitudes to industrial action and attitudes towards commercialism in the modern and ancient world(s).
At School level I am the Chair of the Board of Examiners and the HLC Academic Assessment Lead. I established the 'Board of Examiners Working Group' which is comprised of education leaders across the School. The Group acts as a Forum to discuss proposals and make decisions for changes to practice across the School. The aim is to enhance the student experience and assessment practice through implementing institutional innovations such as Curriculum 2027 and Strategy 2031. The Working Group also coordinates means of protecting the integrity of all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the School, alongside maintaining the overall degree quality of our graduates in line with the remit of the Board of Examiners. The Group pioneered the introduction of an auditing policy across the School for all students at any stage of their education. I am also a member of the Faculty Academic Quality and Standards Committee which examines module changes across HLC, and makes recommendations for change (if required), and I am also a member of the School Ethical Review College, and the EDI Committee whereby I aim to promote LGBTQ+ and mental health issues.
For the Faculty, I am an Academic Quality and Standards Reviewer, whereby I monitor the intellectual & logistical cohesion of programmes of study across Humanities and Social Sciences. The role includes reporting on the implementation of University governance and standards to the AQSC, as well as embedding the Liverpool Curriculum Framework within our programmes, alongside mentoring colleagues on completing processes for proposed new programmes and/or re-validation.
My departmental responsibilities included a four year term as Politics' Undergraduate Curriculum Lead (2016-2020) whereby I worked with colleagues to oversee the reform and expansion of the undergraduate politics curriculum through embedding authentic assessments, global citizenship, digital skills, student confidence, prioritising research led-teaching and digital skills across our existing and new module provision. I also completed a successful three year term as the Departmental Lead for Postgraduate Teaching (2019-2023) which included developing and acting as the Director of Studies for the MA in Political Science and International Relations. The popularity of the new MA programmes can be attributed to the design of new modules that places students first with innovative and professional teaching and assessment methods. I was also a member of the 'Politics Leadership Team' between 2019 and 2022 which acted as the forum for strategic decision making and planning. I have also recently completed a two year term as the Politics Alumni Officer, (2023-2025). I have also acted as the Moderator for the Department of International Studies at XJTLU (2019-2024) and as the External Examiner for the Department of Politics at York St John (2018-2022).
Media Engagements
I contribute my expertise in political communication regularly on UK national and international broadcast or print media. Topics I have discussed include Winston Churchill's legacy and memory for BBC Breakfast, the communicative performances of UK Prime Ministers for BBC Radio, the problems facing Keir Starmer and the end of his leadership for Time Magazine, whether the Conservatives had any prospects of winning the 2024 General Election for The Daily Express, and whether the Labour Party could recover from its bumpy start after returning to power for the Xinhau Network, amongst many others.
My expert analyses focus on political events and/or controversies, keynote speeches, candidate selection and election outcomes, political scandals, diplomatic relations between the UK and the US/EU, the conflict in Russia, the Middle East, and the growth of China and India as significant global players. I have also provided insights into contemporary British Politics including leadership and rhetorical issues affecting the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP, Northern Ireland, amongst others. I have also spoken to the media on political attitudes to morality, social policy, mental health policy, amongst other areas. Within these areas I have contributed expertise on political speeches, narrative and persona, general, bi, and local election(s), successful (and failing) leadership styles, controversial moments such as unscheduled reshuffles or resignations, and wider challenges facing parties and/or individual politicians.
If you would like to book me for a media appearance, please contact me directly via email or via University Media Office to arrange a convenient time to discuss your needs.
Prizes or Honours
- Richard Rose Prize (Political Studies Association, 2017)
- Learning and Teaching Team Award (University of Liverpool, 2017)