Ryan Swift

Profile

I joined the University of Leeds in September 2017 on an ESRC funded 1+3 Social Research MA and PhD scholarship in Politics. Since September 2018 I have been pursuing my doctoral research on the politics of the North of England. In particular, I am looking at the ways in which and the extent to which the North is framed and politicised and the implications of this on policy debates and political action. As part of this project I am undertaking qualitative interviews with key stakeholders relevant to current political debates in the North including MPs, council leaders, metro-mayors, journalists, and researchers.

Prior to joining the University of Leeds, I completed a BA in Politics and Contemporary History and a Master by Research degree at the University of Huddersfield. For this, I carried out research on the Labour Party and the 'Politics of Englishness' which involved undertaking a number of qualitative interviews with Labour Party MPs and council leaders.

I also have experience working as a teaching assistant on the British Politics module at the University of Leeds. 

I am keen to share my research widely and have published work in The Conversation, The Yorkshire Post, and the UK in a Changing Europe blog. I have also appeared on local BBC radio and TV.

Research interests

Key areas of interest include:

• British Politics
• Devolution
• Regionalism
• Nationalism
• Party Politics

Qualifications

• MA Social Research (Distinction)
• MRes Politics (Distinction)
• BA Politics with Contemporary History (1st)