Specific research interests:

• Comparative public policy
• Gender policy change and policy making processes
• Political management reform in central and local government.
• Labour politics and policies
• Political management and policy outcomes

Current research projects:

The Politics of Regulation - research examining what regulatory impact assessment data reveals about regulatory policy making in Government Departments

'Comparative development of gender policy agendas in five european countries' with Claire Annesley (Manchester) and Isabell Engeli (Ottowa), a three year project which draws on comparative agendas project data sets (www.comparativeagendas.org/) to examine the determinants of gender equality policy change.

'Pathways to Politics' examining opportunities and barriers faced by those seeking election from underrepresented groups (see http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/research/pathways_to_politics.pdf) conducted September 2009 to June 2010 for the Equality and Human Rights Commission to feed into the policy debate surrounding the recommendations of the Speakers Conference (see http://www.parliament.uk/business/speakers_conference.cfm).

Previous Research

To see details of the Evaluating Local Governance research on the Local Government Act 2000 please see http://www.ipeg.org.uk/research/elgnce/index.php.

To see details of research for the Standards Board on the design of an ethical framework, for the Centre for Public Scrutiny on health scrutiny, for the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government and for the Councillors Commission into the role of local councillors please use the links on the IPEG website.