Teaching facts or teaching thinking? (posted on 06.09.2021)

In this blog, summarising my article in Teaching in Higher Education, I argue in favour of using bell hooks’ pedagogy in the current post-truth moment.

Cultural capital and political participation in Britain (posted on 27.05.2021)

In this blog for UK in a Changing Europe I show that people who are politically active often have distinctive cultural tastes and habits.

Dominic Cummings, and Black Lives Matter (posted on 04.06.2020)

On how the #dominiccummings scandal and #blacklivesmatter protests are connected, some thoughts.

Labour Leadership Election Polling (posted on 06.04.2020)

In this LSE Department of Government blog, I argue that polling sheds light on the result but tells us less about whether leaders shape political debates.

Expert poll suggests tighter general election (posted on 10.12.2019)

In the final in my series for the LSE British Politics and Policy blog, I present the findings of the PSA’s pre-election expert survey.

Different methods, similar outcome (posted on 02.12.2019)

In the fourth in my series for the LSE British Politics and Policy blog, I consider how the poll of polls and MRP point towards a similar outcome.

Changing appraisals of leaders and policy (posted on 25.11.2019)

In the third in my series for the LSE British Politics and Policy blog, I consider party supporters’, Leavers’, and Remainers’ leader and policy appraisals.

How much might the polls change? (posted on 18.11.2019)

In the second in my series for the LSE British Politics and Policy blog, I consider how the polls might change, drawing on 2010, 2015, and 2017.

Campaigns, ideologies, and strategic voting (posted on 11.11.2019)

In the first in a series for the LSE British Politics and Policy blog before the 2019 general election, I consider campaigns, ideologies, and strategic voting.

Are we nearly there yet? (posted on 22.10.2019)

As the (another) Brexit deadline approaches, I contribute to a LSE Department of Government expert blog analysing the latest developments.

An asset to Boris Johnson: ideology in Britain (posted on 10.10.2019)

Joe Twyman and I give an overview of our research showing the importance of ‘authoritarian populist’ ideology in 2017 and, potentially, 2019.

The Causes of Ideological Divides Remain Opaque (posted on 17.10.2018)

As a note of caution to the two below posts, I argue that we do not (currently) know the causal process at work behind the observed results.

Culture, Economics, and Ideology (posted on 17.10.2018)

For the LSE Department of Government Blog, I find that ideology is as strongly related to cultural activities as economic factors, if not moreso.

Ideological and Partisan Divides are Aligned (posted on 17.10.2018)

Analysing new survey data, I find that contemporary British ideological divides are closely aligned with party identity.

Reflections on the 2017 General Election Polls (posted on 14.09.2018)

Continuing the tradition of having my finger on the pulse of the daily news agenda, here are my thoughts on the 2017 general election polling.

Brexit: What Does it Mean to the Public? (posted on 29.06.2018)

Here’s a short blog that I wrote for the Political Studies Association using YouGov data to look at how the public currently think about Brexit.

The Benefits of Political Participation (posted on 26.06.2018)

I contributed a short section outlining some benefits of political participation to a report on Islamophobia by MEND. You can read the full report here.

Support for Votes at 16 (posted on 13.05.2018)

The public support “the right to vote” more than “reducing the voting age”. Here are the results of a survey experiment I ran with a colleague at YouGov.

The Many Factors in Brexit (posted on 29.06.2017)

Just over a year on from the EU referendum, here’s my take on the many factors that led to that unexpected (by many) outcome.

Why D.C. and J.C. Should Remain Party Leaders (posted on 28.06.2016)

In light of the problems stemming from the Brexit vote, here I provide three reasons each why David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn should stay.

Positive Principle, Destructive Discourse (posted on 23.06.2016)

Here’s what I thought about the EU Referendum a month ago; let’s see whether it stands the test of the results.

Doing a PhD: Keeping it Simple (29.05.2017)

The final post in the series, with tips relating to seeking simple solutions, avoiding SEM (unless you meet key criteria), focusing on your main analyses, and clearing the decks at the end.

Doing a PhD: Time, Money, and Location (25.05.2017)

The penultimate post in this series focuses on contextual factors, and particularly being critical about external work, reserving time for research, saving money, and living near your institution.

Doing a PhD: Organising Yourself (24.05.2017)

With a plan at the outset, academic engagement, and reading and writing done, the next step is getting organised. Specifically, setting realistic goals, working the hours (not nine-to-five), and not being a Soviet bureaucrat.

Doing a PhD: Reading and Writing (23.05.2017)

My third set of tips for completing a PhD relates to a pretty obvious area, and the post advises on the type of PhD you could do, the frequency of reading and writing, being critical about the former, and writing for lots of outlets.

Doing a PhD: Engaging with Academia (posted on 22.05.2017)

Second up, after preparing at the outset, is tips on getting a taste of the acacemic world; namely, deciding on your career, going to conferences, seeking criticism, and getting teaching experience.

Doing a PhD: At the Outset (posted on 21.05.2017)

First in a series of posts offering the tips that I’d give myself if I could go back to the beginning of my PhD research: this post covers knowing your motivation, not being complacent, and having an end date.

On Materials, Khan Should Beat Goldsmith (posted on 05.05.2016)

I’ve had a limited sample of materials from the two leading candidates for London Mayor, and they lead me to argue that Khan deserves to beat Goldsmith.

The Polling Inquiry and a Public Good (posted on 30.04.2016)

It’s one year on from the general election polling miss, local and devolved elections are just around the corner, and there’s a referendum on the horizon, so we’re due lots of polling. As such, now seems like a good time to publish my report of the launch of the Polling Inquiry findings, plus my thoughts on the purpose of polling, which can be read here.

Two MPs’ Views on Public Political Engagement (posted on 14.04.2016)

Complementing the more descriptive report on the launch (below) of the 2015 Audit of Political Engagement, here‘s my view of the responses given to it by the two MPs who were present.

Launch of the 2015 Audit of Political Engagement (posted on 14.04.2016)

For those of you who are interested but couldn’t attend the event, here‘s a pretty lengthy report on the Hansard Society’s launch of their 2015 Audit of Political Engagement.

On A Relative’s Benefits Tribunal (posted on 09.04.2016)

With the recent events surrounding the budget, IDS’s resignation, and disability benefits, here I write about a close relative’s experience.

The Cathie Marsh Lecture on the Polling Miss (posted on 17.01.2016)

With the forthcoming release of the polling inquiry it seems like a good time to report on what the chair of that inquiry had to say about polling and survey research when he delivered the annual Cathie Marsh Memorial Lecture last November. Click here for the full post, in which I also comment on the importance of this issue and its  implications.

Will the Green Surge Translate into Votes in May? (posted on 16.01.2015)

In this short post for Comment is Free I consider whether the recent surge in Green membership will boost support in the general election. I conclude that this is not guaranteed but the increased membership is still a good thing for the party. This is not least, as I overlooked to say in the post, because it provides a big boost for the party’s coffers during an election campaign.

Soliloquy of Chaos (posted on 12.01.2015)

In this post on Bright Green I argue that the hip hop music of the Golden Age can be seen as political poetry that is by turn powerful, funny, and ingenious. Click here for the full post.

Privilege, Perception of it, and Political Activity (posted on 23.10.2014)

In this Democratic Audit Blog, I argues that privilege could be a significant factor in deciding who does and doesn’t opt to get involved in politics.

It’s as Good as Everyone Says (posted on 17.09.2014)

I was lucky enough to be able to join the ‘Green Yes’ campaign in Edinburgh on Monday, an experience that was as ace as expected. Here I outline the highlights of my day as part of something incredibly positive.

Why I’m Supporting Scottish Independence (posted on 17.09.2014)

On the eve of the referendum I argue that Scottish independence could have a positive impact on national identity and nationalism, the Scottish economy, politics in the rest of the UK, and our constitutional setup.  I conclude that this is too good an opportunity to miss.

Next Year, Nigel: UKIP’s General Election Prospects (posted on 16.08.2014)

I argue here that, in an unpredictable general election, UKIP will be lucky to get an MP but that the threat of split votes has already achieved their goal of pushing policy positions on the EU and immigration to the right.

Jacob Rees-Mogg: Can this Affable English Gent be Trusted on Scottish Devolution?(posted on 10.06.2014)

Channel 4 News sent JRM to Scotland to argue for the Union. Here I argue that this is an interesting illustration of the importance of trust in politics.

Votes Should be Interpreted not Judged (posted on 26.05.2014)

As a count assistant I encountered some unnecessary judgement of voters by candidates. Here I outline why they should be frustrated with voting as a flawed means of communication, rather than with voters’ messages.

Democracy Must be Open to the Less Privileged (posted on 13.03.2013)

In this post for Re the zine I argue that politicians should stop focusing on educating the population and, instead, look at what they could change about themselves to make politics more open to all.