Tag: Professor

Categories
Urgent Questions

Professor Joni Lovenduski

JONI LOVENDUSKI

Professor Joni Lovenduski is Professor Emerita at Birkbeck College London. She is the author of Gendering Politics, Feminising Political Science (ECPR Press) and the winner of numerous academic awards. The photo above is of her cat.

Please tell us a little bit about how you entered academia and your academic career

I was a mature student at Manchester University in the late 1960s.  It was an exciting time of social movements, political activism and student politics. Studying politics then and there entailed a broad social science programme in which one gradually specialised in politics and government. So we read economics, anthropology, sociology, political theory and even dipped a little into social statistics and methodology.

Which five books/articles (written by someone else) have been most important to you in your academic career?

C. Wright Mills’ The Sociological Imagination and Sheldon Wolin’s  Politics and Vision were foundational. Later I was very influenced by Lipset and Rokkan’s Party Systems and Voter Alignments. Then as I turned more and more to feminism and gender issues I was inspired by Carol Pateman’s The Sexual Contract, Gina Sapiro’s The Political Integration of Women.  This list could be much longer and ideally include foundational essays by many pioneering feminist political scientists, many of which are cited in Part 4 of Gendering Politics, Feminising Political Science.

Which person has been most influential and important to you in your academic career?

Early on Ghita Ionescu who gave me many opportunities.

Which of your own pieces of research are you most proud of?

The work on women’s political representation and recruitment and on feminist institutionalism.

What has been your greatest achievement in academia?

Surviving.

What has been your greatest disappointment in academia?

Intellectual segregation and fragmentation.

What is the first or most important thing you tell your students about parliaments?

Parliaments are gendered workplaces.

I wandered in to looking at Parliaments because of my interest in gendered political recruitment so my interests are mainly in who is there and how they got there.

Where were you born, where did you grow up, and where do you live now?

Born and grew up in the USA, on a farm in New Jersey. I now live in London and Gualdo Cattaneo, Umbria.

What was your first job?

Waitressing in a New Jersey diner.

What was the toughest job you ever had?

I once, briefly worked at a jewellers where it was my responsibility to contact women in order to repossess engagement rings on which the payments had not been kept up. In this job I learned that a surprising number of customers had, within pretty short periods of time, purchased more than one ring for more than one betrothed.

What are your hobbies?

Bridge, gardening, cooking.

What are your favourite novels?

This is too difficult. I love Jane Austen, Henry James, Scott Fitzgerald, Nancy Mitford, Anne Tyler, Michael Dibdin, Donna Leon,  Elena Ferrante. Basically I read a lot of fiction including detective novels, and enjoy contemporary fiction.

What is your favourite music?

Anything by Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Ludovico Einaudi, Patsy Kline, Emmylou Harris.

What are your favourite artists?

I don’t really have favourites, still exploring.

What is your favourite film?

Coen Brothers films. Martin Scorcese films. I loved The Irishman not least because it reminded me of growing up in New Jersey in the 1950s and 60s.

What is your favourite building?

Georgian London Terraces. They are simple and beautiful (admittedly not that easy to live in but …)

What is your favourite tv show?

The Sopranos. Remind me of New Jersey. More recently Le Bureau.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Italy, you never get used to its beauty.

What is your favourite sport?

Ugh.

Boothroyd or Bercow?

Neither.

Restoration or Renewal?

Depends.

Cat or Dog?

Cats (photo available).

Fish and chips or Curry?

Both.

Planes, trains or automobiles?

Automobiles.

Scones: Devonshire or Cornish Method?

Both.

And, finally, a question asked by 8-year-old Seth: What’s the best thing about winter: snow or satsumas?

Probably satsumas as they are more likely to happen.

Categories
Urgent Questions

Professor David Judge

DAVID JUDGE

Professor David Judge is Professor Emeritus of Politics at the University of Strathclyde. He is the author of The Parliamentary State (SAGE).

Please tell us a little bit about how you entered academia and your academic career

I had no great plans to become an academic. My career progression was often down to happenstance. The first chance occurrence was the decision taken by my history teacher, in my last year at school, to trial a one-year A-level politics class (then entitled British Constitution). This led me to study politics at undergraduate level at Exeter, which was chosen for no other reason than its geographical location. From there I went on to do my PhD at Sheffield on the basis of fortuitous circumstances leading to the award of an SSRC (precursor of the ESRC) grant. My first academic job followed two years later when I was appointed as a lecturer at a Scottish Central Institution in Paisley (now part of The University of the West of Scotland). Only a series of chance events and serendipitous timings within a very short period led to my move to Scotland. After 14 years at Paisley, again by chance and unforeseen, I was offered a job seven miles down the road at Strathclyde in Glasgow.

All of this might appear to be a seamless progression, driven by chance and luck, but I wouldn’t have had an academic career or become a professor had it not been for the decisive interventions of several people.

Which five books/articles (written by someone else) have been most important to you in your academic career?

A. H. Birch, Representative and Responsible Government.

C. B. Macpherson, The Life and Times of Liberal Democracy.

Ralph Miliband, Capitalist Democracy in Britain.

Hanna Pitkin, The Concept of Representation.

Jeremy Richardson and Grant Jordan, Governing Under Pressure.

Which people have been most influential and important to you in your academic career?

Without turning this into something resembling an Oscar Awards acceptance speech, I have to acknowledge upfront the influence of two remarkably influential women in my life. The first was my mother: she knew the value of education long before I did. The other is my wife: she knows the importance of life beyond the world of academia.

Within the world of academia three mentors offered pivotal support and direction at crucial stages of my career. The first was Michael Rush at Exeter who led me to take parliament seriously as an institution and was instrumental in facilitating the start of my PhD studies. The second was Stuart Walkland at Sheffield, who, as my PhD supervisor, provided me with the freedom to follow my own ideas along paths he wouldn’t have followed himself. The third was Jeremy Richardson at Strathclyde who offered me a job at a ‘critical juncture’ in my career, and who was instrumental in my career progression thereafter. There have been a host of other people with whom I’ve collaborated over the years and who have been important in enabling me to co-produce publications in areas well beyond parliamentary studies, such as The Politics of Industrial Closure, A Green Dimension for the European Community, and Theories of Urban Politics. In particular,David Earnshaw (who has a ‘proper job’ in Brussels) was a brilliant co-conspirator and co-author for nearly 20 years on matters concerning the European Parliament; and, since my ‘retirement’, working with Cristina Leston-Bandeira has been both a productive and pleasurable experience in grappling with fundamental issues concerning ‘institutional representation’ and ‘why legislatures matter’.

Which of your own pieces of research are you most proud of?

Proud isn’t the right word, but the books I most wanted to write – for my own satisfaction if for no-one else’s – were The Parliamentary State (Sage, 1993) and Democratic Incongruities (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014).

What has been your greatest achievement in academia?

Not getting sacked. Fortunately, senior managers at Strathclyde showed remarkable forbearance when I felt obliged, on many occasions as the Head of the Department of Government, ‘to speak truth to power’.

What has been your greatest disappointment in academia?

Not getting sacked.

What is the first or most important thing you tell your students about parliaments?

The first thing: many political scientists don’t take parliaments seriously; and most members of the public don’t hold parliaments in high regard.

Where were you born, where did you grow up, and where do you live now?

I was born in Jessop Hospital in Sheffield. I grew up on a Sheffield council estate and went to a comprehensive school (at a time when only 7 per cent of children in England went to such schools). My dad was unapologetically working class. My mother was equally unapologetic in her belief that her kids should, through the force of education, not remain working class.

So, although now objectively middle class by profession, I still retain something resembling a Sheffield accent and still cling to memories of my working-class roots. The authorities in Sheffield, however, have tried to expunge any record of my time in Sheffield: Jessop Hospital has been demolished, the primary school I attended has been demolished, and the buildings on both campuses of my secondary school have also been demolished!

What was your first job?

My first job, as a teenager, was selling football programmes at Bramall Lane, home of Sheffield United. I then used the earnings from Bramall Lane to fund my entry into Hillsborough, home of Sheffield Wednesday, to watch ‘my’ team.

What was the toughest job you ever had?

When I was a student, I worked as a hospital porter during five successive summer vacations. Witnessing the life-affirming and life-changing work of those in the NHS, and the vagaries and vicissitudes of life for those suffering long-term ill-health or sudden medical emergencies, provided a touchstone for my future career: my job was never going to be as tough as those performed daily by hospital staff.

What are your favourite novels?

The ‘Jackson Lamb Thrillers’ by Mick Herron. These are brilliant, and just happen to be the most recent novels I have read (so I can actually remember their plots and characters!).

What is your favourite music?

I tend to listen to music when I’m driving, so it depends on what I have on CarPlay. At the moment it’s a weird mix of Bon Iver, Elbow, Eric Clapton, John Martyn, Joni Mitchell, The Killers, Kings of Leon, Michael Kiwanuka, Willie Nelson, and, OK I admit it, ABBA.

What are your favourite artists?

Nancy Ortenston’s New Mexico Music. A large print of this features in our living room – so, I see it every day.

What is your favourite film?

The Last Picture Show. I’m a sucker for American black and white movies set in 1950s Texas.

What is your favourite building?

According to the many photos of these buildings on my phone I have two favourites. The first, for its exterior, is the Sydney Opera House. The second, for its interior, is the Santuário Dom Bosco, in Brasília.

What is your favourite tv show?

All-time favourite: The West Wing. Recent favourite: Better Call Saul.

What is your favourite sport?

Competitive biscuit eating. I reached Olympic qualifying standard during lockdown.

Boothroyd or Bercow?

Bercow: largely for his commitment to the Parliamentary Studies modules now on offer at 24 universities in the UK.

Restoration or Renewal?

Probably both, but at the present rate of ‘reviewing’ and ‘delivering’ it might end up as simply a case of ‘Deterioration’.

Cat or Dog?

Neither: Guinea Pigs (I became a default carer for my kids’ guinea pigs).

Fish and chips or Curry?

Fish and Chips

Planes, trains or automobiles?

Automobiles: my preferred mode of transport for listening to music.

Scones: Devonshire or Cornish Method?

As I spent three years as a student in Exeter it has to be Devonshire.

And, finally, a question asked by 8-year-old Seth: Would you prefer to be able to smell colours, or touch noises?

Great question Seth. This is the kind of question that will keep me awake at night trying to fathom out an answer. If an answer does come to me at 3.00 am, don’t worry Seth, I’ll phone you straight away!

Categories
Urgent Questions

Professor Sarah Childs

SARAH CHILDS

Professor Sarah Childs is Professor of Politics & Gender at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her latest book is Feminist Democratic Representation, co-authored with Karen Celis and published by Oxford University Press in 2020. She also authored The Good Parliament Report in 2016.

Please tell us a little bit about how you entered academia and your academic career

As an undergraduate in politics I realised I hadn’t been able to learn enough about gender; I did a masters in Women’s studies and was signed up to start at PGCE… I realized I didn’t want to teach the Romans to 11 year olds… I had to look for a job – in those days the Guardian on a Wednesday – interviews for two PhDs places, I got offered the first at Kingston University, part-time with teaching; otherwise, I might have been a suffrage historian… I never wanted to be a British politics lecturer – I did politics in the school of African and Asian studies at Sussex… but my PhD years covered the 1997 election. I was supposed to be writing a theoretical PhD but I ended up interviewing 35 of the New Labour Women; and I loved talking to political actors.

Which five books/articles (written by someone else) have been most important to you in your academic career?

Benedict Anderson Imagined Communities – as an undergraduate, this book was like nothing I’d read before.

Vicky Randall Women and Politics – my first ever gender and politics book.

Anne Phillips The Politics of Presence – read as a Masters in Women’s Studies student, and started off my academic career.

Drude Dahlerup ‘From a Small to a Large Minority’, a key contribution to debates about critical mass.

Suzanne Dovi ‘Preferable Descriptive Representatives: Will Just Any Woman, Black, or Latino Do?’ – made me think harder about the practice of representation

Which person/people has/have been most influential/important to you in your academic career?

Joni Lovenduski and Vicky Randall – When I was a part-time PhD student in an old polytechnic on the verge of giving up, both told me that my research was worthwhile; thereafter I received the most amazing mentorship from Joni, and Vicky examined my PhD.

Rosie Campbell – co-author, co-jogger, and confidant.

Karen Celis – with whom I’ve just spent amazing three years writing a book, including two summers of intense writing in Italy with her.

Which of your own pieces of research are you most proud of?

Feminist Democratic Representation with Karen Celis. It was slow, intense and fun, and our first book of political theory.

‘The Substantive Representation of Women: Reducing the VAT on Sanitary Products in the UK’ in Parliamentary Affairs (2006) with Julie Withey. My favourite discrete case study.

What has been your greatest achievement in academia?

The Good Parliament Report 2016 + the pilot (2018) and then permanent change to Standing Orders to allow proxy voting for babyleave (2020).

What has been your greatest disappointment in academia?

Being told: (i) I would only get a serious job if I study a serious subject (i.e. not gender); and (ii) I would only get a pay rise if I received a job offer from another institution.

What is the first or most important thing you tell your students about parliaments?

To understand them you need to speak to folks who inhabit them, week in-week out, both political and administrative.

Where were you born, where did you grow up, and where do you live now?

Hartley Wintney and Hook, in Hampshire – school was local but sixth form college was in Basingstoke. I have lived in Clapham since the early 1990s. I had to get away from village life where everyone knows your business.

What was your first job?

I worked in a sweet shop on Saturdays whilst at school and then Boots the Chemist as a sixth former.  

What was the toughest job you ever had?

I worked in an industrial laundry on a machine that would send down hangers on which I would hang soggy men’s overalls, all day. I have never been so physically exhausted. After a week I fortunately got a pub job that meant I could leave.

What are your hobbies?

Running with my little brother (virtually if not in person); personal training; swimming. None of these in an extreme way but regularly; and reading.

What are your favourite novels?

The Blind Assassin, Margaret Atwood.

The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver

Amrita, Banana Yoshimoto

What is your favourite music?

Blue Lines, Massive Attack. Reminds me of friends, gigs, and (many strong) women’s voices.

Home by Hania Rani. During the pandemic this was really relaxing

What are your favourite artists?

Georgia O’keefe, especially her flowers. Edward Hopper, I look at this picture every day, and I love the water.

What is your favourite film?

Secrets and Lies, Mike Leigh. Best representation of PMT ever seen on film… IMHO.

What is your favourite building?

Falling Water, when I visited as a teenager I was blown away by it.

What is your favourite tv show?

During Covid: Schitt’s Creek

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Iceland: spas, thermal swimming pools, mountains, snow, and clean air.

What is your favourite sport?

I guess football to watch – best memories of Granddad (Tottenham) and dad, and still watch with little bro and partner (both Gooners).

Boothroyd or Bercow?

Bercow on gender/diversity sensitive reforms.

Restoration or Renewal?

Both, but former without latter will be irrelevant to the better working of the institution.

Cat or Dog?

Neither.

Fish and chips or Curry?

Both, at least once a month.

Planes, trains or automobiles?

The Eurostar to Brussels.

Scones: Devonshire or Cornish Method?

I don’t need the cream.

And, finally, a question asked by 8-year-old Seth: Would you rather have chips for fingers, or chocolate eclairs for thumbs??

Chips  – I think the chocolate eclairs will drip chocolate and cream on my clothes… and I like clothes too much.

Categories
Urgent Questions

Professor Michael Rush

MICHAEL RUSH

Professor Michael Rush is Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of Exeter. He is the author of The Role of the Member of Parliament Since 1868: from Gentlemen to Players, published by Oxford University Press in 2001, and is the driving force behind the Parliamentary Archive of MPs, 1832-present.

Please tell us a little bit about how you entered academia and your academic career

I started as an undergraduate at Sheffield studying for a degree in history and politics, graduating in 1964. I was then awarded a Sheffield University Postgraduate Scholarship and was awarded my PhD in politics in 1966. I regarded myself as very fortunate to be at university at a time when only 4.2 per cent of the 18+ age group were studying for a degree. I then became a beneficiary of the post-Robbins expansion of universities. The post at Exeter was the third for which I had been shortlisted in the space of a few months in 1964. I remained at Exeter until my retirement in 2003, having been appointed to a personal chair in 1994. However, I spent a year on a teaching exchange at the University of Western Ontario in 1967-68, did summer school teaching at Acadia University, Wolfeville, Nova Scotia, and had visiting research fellowships at Carleton University, Ottawa and the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Which five books/articles (written by someone else) have been most important to you in your academic career?

Harold Lasswell, Who Gets What, When How, 1936.

Lewis Namier, Politics at the Accession of George III1958.

Bernard Crick, In Defence of Politics, 1962.

Bernard Crick, The Reform of Parliament, 1964.

W.G. Runciman, Social Science and Political Theory, 1965.

Which person/people has/have been most influential/important to you in your academic career?

Bill Thornhill, Stuart Walkland and Jack Hayward, taught me as an undergraduate at Sheffield; Bill was also my PhD supervisor; Sammy Finer, my external examiner; Bernard Crick and many official and academic members of the Study of Parliament Group; Victor Wiseman, my first head of department; and Henry Mayo, chair of the Department of political Science at the University of Western Ontario, from whom I learned some very useful things about being a head of department.

Which of your own pieces of research are you most proud of?

The Role of the Member if Parliament: from Gentlemen to Players, OUP, 2001.

Parliamentary Socialisation: Learning the Ropes or Determining Behaviour? (co-authored with Philip Giddings), Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.

What has been your greatest achievement in academia?

Working closely other academics and parliamentary officials through the Study of Parliament Group to extend and enhance our knowledge and understanding of the UK Parliament.

What has been your greatest disappointment in academia?

Running out of time!  After I retired in 2003, I continued to research and publish, but conducting research and writing up the results eventually became too onerous, but that left unstarted projects I would have liked to have undertaken, such as a study of the Public Accounts Committee, which has not been the subject of major research since Basil Chubb’s book published in 1952.

What is the first or most important thing you tell your students about parliaments?

The need to understand enough about the history and political culture of the country concerned to understand its legislature (and, indeed, its politics).

Where were you born, where did you grow up, and where do you live now?

I was born and grew up in Richmond, Surrey. I moved to Exeter in 1964 and have lived there ever since.

What was your first job?

Gardener with Richmond Borough Council between leaving school and doing national service and subsequently as an undergraduate during university summer vacations.

What was the toughest job you ever had?

Being Head of Department.  This was not because my colleagues were in the least bit difficult; on the contrary, they were always most supportive.  However, as HoD my time was inevitably fragmented and in my 7 years in the job the responsibilities increased substantially.

What are your hobbies?

Gardening, exploring family history, reading historical and political biographies, reading novels, listening to classical music, walking.

What are your favourite novels?

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (beautifully written & a wonderful picture of early 19th century social life); Anthony Trollope’s political novels (good tales well-told & a superb on mid-19th century politics); Robert Graves, I, Claudius & Claudius the God, 1934 (bring ancient Rome alive).

What is your favourite music?

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 (The Choral) (majestic); Vaughan Williams, Variations on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (wonderfully evocative).

What are your favourite pieces of artwork?

W.J.M. Turner & David Hockney (I just do!).

What is your favourite film?

Citizen Kane (still resonates).

What is your favourite building?

Salisbury Cathedral – sheer elegance; Palace of Westminster – professional interest!

What is your favourite tv show?

Brideshead Revisited (good story, beautifully acted), Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister (need I say?).

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Italy (beautiful scenery, lovely people, good food).

What is your favourite sport?

Rugby union (watched Richmond, London Scottish, London Welsh, and Rosslyn Park as a boy & later played for a minor club). Tennis (good exercise).

Boothroyd or Bercow?

Boothroyd.

Restoration or Renewal?

Both, but, as Joad used to say, ‘It depends what you mean by…’!

Cat or Dog?

Cat.

Fish and chips or Curry?

Curry.

Planes, trains or automobiles?

Trains.

Scones: Devonshire or Cornish Method?

My paternal grandmother coming from Morchard Bishop, near Crediton, it’s no contest!

And, finally, a question asked by 8-year-old Seth: Would you rather eat mushy peas in orange juice, or mushrooms in golden syrup?

I like all four, but, forced to choose, it’s the first, but I have a question for you Seth: Do you like kippers and jam? I had a cousin who claims he did!

Categories
Urgent Questions

Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira

CRISTINA LESTON-BANDEIRA

Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira is Professor of Politics at the University of Leeds. She is Co-Director of the Centre for Democratic Engagement, Chair of the UK Study of Parliament Group, and the co-editor of the journal Parliamentary Affairs

Please tell us a little bit about how you entered academia and your academic career

I first entered academia back in Portugal, through Research Assistance temporary jobs and teaching. But I interrupted this by working in an opinion poll company, deciding eventually that actually I really wanted to do a PhD as I enjoyed in-depth research far too much to stay at a poll company; at which time I came to the UK thanks to a British Chevening Scholarship, fully convinced I’d head back to Portugal once the PhD was done. Twenty-seven years later I’m still here… In the UK I carried on being involved in research projects as a PhD student, thanks to my contacts with teams in Portugal, and taught the odd seminar for Lord Norton’s fab class on Comparative Legislatures, demonstrating to British students how amazing(ly puzzling) the Portuguese parliament was;-). In the meanwhile started my family (first son born half way through PhD; second one born a week after PhD Viva; third one at the start of my first lectureship job), so was somewhat constrained of where I could go/apply for, as my husband had a good job at Hull Uni (different field) and commuting would have been very difficult. Got a temporary lectureship at Hull University, eventually turned into a permanent one. I was looking at photos the other day with my youngest son of when he was a toddler and noticed how worn out I looked then! I look back and I have no idea how I did it, but when I started my first lectureship I also became Admissions Tutor, had to develop, lead and teach a new research methods for all 2nd year students, whilst also leading another compulsory module for first years and introduce an (as it happens first in the UK) MA fully taught online; and my youngest didn’t sleep through until he was 2. No wonder I looked completely worn out then. Stayed at Hull until 2015, by which time I’d become professor, before moving on to Leeds Uni.

Which five books/articles (written by someone else) have been most important to you in your academic career?

In no particular order:

Politics as a Vocation, Max Weber (I’m sorry, but I’m actually a sociologist, not a political scientist… when I did my undergraduate studies, Politics didn’t exist as a degree in Portugal, effects of 48 years of dictatorship).

The Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life, Erving Goffman

The Differentiation of Society, Niklas Luhmann

Legislatures in Developmental Perspective, Allan Kornberg and Lloyd D. Musolf (eds.)

Does Parliament Matter?, Philip Norton – incidentally, this book is the reason I came to the UK. I remember so well seeing it in the library of the Constitutional Court in Lisbon and thinking: this is what I want to do for my PhD, does parliament matter (and obviously, why;)). I went straight to the British Council to try to find a postal address for this Philip Norton… these were the years before the internet. Found out he was in this place called Hull. Wrote him a letter asking if I could do my PhD with him, he replied, yes sure; got a grant, off I went to glorious Hull. Imagine if he had said no;-).

Which person/people has/have been most influential/important to you in your academic career?

Tricky one but in terms of influential I’m going for my mum (which would probably surprise her). Not because she’s done anything in particular towards my career or even knows much about what I do (and much less about academia). But because of the sort of woman she is. She’s not your standard mum, but she’s pretty phenomenal. Incredibly hard-worker, very strong work ethics, thinks outside the box and always saw what others wouldn’t, very open-minded and adaptable. Without explicitly teaching me, I know that a lot of my resilience and adaptability come from her, and those have been key in my career. And from my grandma, another amazing woman, I got the love for teaching. My father also influenced me a lot, we were very close; he also loved his teaching (he was a professor in demography), and no doubt my interest for research comes from him.

Most important definitely my husband – I wouldn’t have been able to do half of the things I’ve done without my better half; but then again I wouldn’t have married him, if I didn’t know he’d be my better half;-).

Which of your own pieces of research are you most proud of?

Ah, hmm. I’m very proud of my PhD (From Legislation to Legitimation: the Role of the Portuguese Parliament), still today. Although not actual research as such, I’m very proud of the Exploring Parliament book I co-edited with Louise Thompson, for lots of reasons, but primarily because it combines three of favourite work things (pedagogy, parliament and working with officials) (ok, four things: and working with Louise). I’m also very proud of my article with David Judge on the ‘Institutional Representation of Parliament’ (in Political Studies), again for lots of reasons, but mainly because it was the culmination of a process of true academic discussion, reflection, research, collaboration and exchange of ideas. In an increasingly individualistic academic environment, it’s a privilege to actually have such a collaborative experience of exchanging and refining ideas.

What has been your greatest achievement in academia?

Oh, no idea, you tell me. Though two things I’m very proud of: the fact I’m a National Teaching Fellow and, together with Louise Thompson, to have transformed the PSA Parliaments specialist group at the time from a small and practically inactive group, to one of the largest and most active ones, and with a legacy that lasts today still.

What has been your greatest disappointment in academia?

Dealing with deceitful people. Can’t stand deceit.

What is the first or most important thing you tell your students about parliaments?

To look into it by themselves, rather than believing what others say about parliament.

Where were you born, where did you grow up, and where do you live now?

I was born in Paris (as in Paris, France, not Paris, Texas;)). My parents had been lucky enough to get scholarships to study in France and get out of Portugal, where there was a dictatorship. They met in Paris. A few years later I was born. We stayed there until the revolution in Portugal, I was about 4. My mum was on the first flight back to Portugal as soon as the airport opened. The revolution happened in April, by June they had left their (fab) jobs in Paris, made an auction of most of their stuff and gone to Portugal. I only spoke French until then, didn’t say a word for a month, and when I started speaking again, it came out in Portuguese. My parents were very political, so I was brought up between political demonstrations, party meetings and feminist gatherings. My mum would eventually become an MP and Minister; my father at one point actually created his own party, and created the trade union for higher education in Portugal. It’s not your “typical” Portuguese upbringing… and no surprise that I ended up obsessed with politics and parliament in particular (especially as my grandma, to whom I was very close, was also into her politics). Lived in Lisbon until I decided I’d give it a go with doing a PhD in Hull – the plan was to carry on living in Lisbon though. But one sunny lunch time I met my future husband at staff house at Hull Uni, and that was it. One year later we were married. Have stayed in East Yorkshire ever since. I live near Beverley, a beautiful market town, which I love. So I always think of myself as having three identities between France, Portugal and the UK, where I have now lived the longest.

What was your first job?

Ah, difficult to say, depends what you mean. But first first job, babysitter.

What was the toughest job you ever had?

Going to one of my students’ funeral.

What are your hobbies?

Hmm. Not sure I’ve ever considered these as my ‘hobbies’, but things I do to make me happy: take photos (my boys recurrently tease me on the amount of photos I take – if I could speak through photos, I would do), walks (LOVE walking, particularly in the North York moors, the Lake District, or just locally), gardening (love looking after our garden, love pruning!), and do anything that relates to food: eat food, talk food, cook food, watch food, photograph food, discover food, share food etc. Besides that, I’ve always loved jigsaws, and recently I’ve found they help me de-stress. A colleague introduced me to the world of Wentworth wooden jigsaws…. WOW. Ah, and I love dancing, does that count as a hobby? My husband and I started a salsa class about a year ago, one of the best things we’ve done; we’re not that good, but we love it. Highly recommend it, a great way to de-stress and take your mind off the little things that drain your brain day in, day out. And I’ve done Pilates regularly for about 30 years, to keep me sane; and I go running about twice a week supposedly to keep me healthy; I’m rubbish at it.

What is your favourite novel?

Possession, by A.S. Byatt – for lots of reasons, but mainly because this was one of the books I challenged myself to read when I did my English language British Council course for my IELTS exam, all those years ago. And I loved it then already, but then when I moved to the UK I re-read it and realised how appropriate that book had been as a sort of intro into my journey in the UK. Most of the action takes place in this part of the world, between Lincolnshire and the North York Moors, and it’s a story about academics (with archival material in between, a favourite of mine too).

But I love crime fiction, so could not not mention the Maigret series, by Simenon. Absolute genius writing and plots; always happy to re-read them. Could mention any, but let’s go for Maigret et les braves gens.

What is your favourite music?

Ah, I have a very eclectic taste in music. Music is very important to me – always have music on and can’t work without music blasting out in my ear-phones (unless I’m in meetings…). Love classical music, particularly ancient music, but also opera (wrote my whole PhD to the sound of Norma). But also love lots of other styles, and totally love soul music; one of my favourite contemporary bands are the Pink Martini. But my all favourite is undoubtedly Tom Waits. So it’s between Bach’s Cello Suites, Telemann’s Sonate Metodiche, Bellini’s Casta Diva, Charpentier’s Magnificat, Aretha Franklin’s Think, Barbara Lewis’ Baby, I’m Yours, Everything But The Girl’s Come on Home, Edith Piaf’s Milord, Amália’s Com Que Voz, and Tom Waits’ Downtown Train,Martha, Time, Ruby’s Arms, Grapefruit Moon and Jersey Girl. But, when all is said and done, Jersey Girl (sang by T. Waits) will always be my go to song.

What are your favourite pieces of artwork?

Easy, a painting done by my son’s partner of my favourite set of trees, which I’ve photographed about a million times;). They gave it to me as a present, and it’s stunning. See it for yourself:

What is your favourite film?

Another very difficult one, love film, have always done so. The older I get, the more I’d go for a happy ending though, as life is complicated enough. If you asked my sons, they’d say my favourite film is Mary Poppins, so let’s go with that, and add Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, because it’s a Howard Hawks, it stars the magnificent Marilyn Monroe, it’s from the 1950s (my favourite era) and it’s a sort of a musical. Can’t go wrong.

What is your favourite building?

Well, it has to be a parliament, doesn’t it? The question is which one, very tricky. Probably controversial, but I think I’ll go for the Scottish Parliament. Obviously love the Palace of Westminster too, incredibly special and impressive, and of course the Portuguese Assembleia da República is objectively the most beautiful parliament in the world (as my students know, the sky is always a magnificent blue there). But I actually love the modern architecture of Holyrood, and the way it combines natural elements, such as wood, stone, glass, and the way it integrates so many symbolic elements of the land and nation of Scotland; whilst combining also a very modern building with an older one. And I actually love the beauty of the chamber and of the committee rooms (and the view from those rooms…wow). Sorry. I still love Westminster though.

What is your favourite tv show?

Ah, MasterChef (sorry). For a long time I didn’t actually watch any TV. When our sons were growing up, we used to work two shifts (my husband is also an academic): during the day and at night, so that we could be with our sons late afternoon/evening. So we never followed any TV; just watched films every so often. But over the last few years, as we’ve been able to only do one shift, a long day, we do now watch some TV. And we’re obsessed with MasterChef, we watch them all, standard, pros, celebrities, xmas special, whatever it may be.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Portugal obviously! Anywhere in Portugal, but particularly Lisbon, Ericeira and the Alentejo. It still feels like home, but only with the good bits, and of course the fabulous food; the amazing weather and the stunning sea.

What is your favourite sport?

I’m not really a sports person. My father loved football and played it very well. My older son has inherited this love and gift. My husband is mad cyclist. So I’ll watch football and cycling, to keep them company and I enjoy their appreciation of the sports. My husband is also into climbing (he’s built a climbing wall in the garage during lockdown!), and I used to do it with him (before the kids!); my three sons have inherited his love for climbing, but I can’t say as a mum I enjoy watching them…. Too scary. So, I usually read my book at a nearby café/tea room/rock.

Boothroyd or Bercow?

Boothroyd.

Restoration or Renewal?

Restoration whilst Renewing

Cat or Dog?

Cat.

Fish and chips or Curry?

Fish and chips, if a Friday evening by Hornsea seafront with my boys; curry if made by my husband

Planes, trains or automobiles?

Trains!!! Can’t stand planes or anything about flying, from actual airports, to the flying bit, to the environmental damage they do. It’s mad that we fly everywhere in Europe. If we had a good train infrastructure, there’d be no reason why that shouldn’t be the main means of transport within Europe. And we shouldn’t always thrive to doing things as quickly as possible, getting to places quickly; there’s a lot of value in a slower pace. Train all the way.

Scones: Devonshire or Cornish Method?

No idea, both fine? Pastéis de Nata.

And, finally, a question asked by 8-year-old Seth: Would you rather play football with a snowball, or tennis with a basketball?

Definitely football with a snowball! It’d remind me of my father and I love snow.

Categories
Urgent Questions

Professor Philip Lord Norton of Louth

PHILIP NORTON

Professor Philip Lord Norton of Louth is Professor of Government and Director of the Centre for Legislative Studies at the University of Hull. He has been a Conservative Life peer in the UK House of Lords since 1998.

Please tell us a little bit about how you entered academia and your academic career

I have been interested in politics, and especially Parliament, since I was about 11, and it has been a consuming passion ever since. When I got to university, I realised that an academic career – researching and teaching – was my vocation and I have spent my life disseminating knowledge about politics. Even in the Lords, I see my role as essentially educational. I got my first permanent academic post at Hull in 1977 and I was fortunate to be promoted early – I achieved a personal professorship when I was 35. The campus is ideal as a working environment and I have not been that interested in being lured from it.

Which five books/articles (written by someone else) have been most important to you in your academic career?

I’m not sure I could confine it to five. There have been so many that have influenced me, not least those that have shaped how we think about politics, but none that I would isolate as creating a ‘Eureka’ moment – more like lots of mini-Eurekas along the way. Mind you, I may have an ‘I forgot Goschen’ moment and suddenly realise – probably in the middle of the night – that there is one obvious work, so obvious that it has escaped me completely.

Which person/people has/have been most influential/important to you in your academic career?

I think the three most important in terms of encouraging me and enabling me to go further have been three people, sadly no longer with us: my PhD supervisor, Stuart Walkland, the Hull VC when I got my chair, Professor Bill Taylor, and my long-time Hull colleague, Professor Jack Hayward.

Which of your own pieces of research are you most proud of?

My early research of dissension in the House of Commons, my analysis of party groupings in the Parliamentary Conservative Party, and – the standard answer – my latest book (Governing Britain). I got particular enjoyment from researching, not least because of the archival research involved, the history of the 1922 Committee.

What has been your greatest achievement in academia?

I think I would opt for getting my chair when I did, though being fortunate enough to get my initial appointment to Hull ranks alongside that. I almost missed the invitation to an interview. I had been away and only found it when I returned on a Sunday. The interview was the following day! Had I missed it life would have been very different.

What has been your greatest disappointment in academia?

I can only think of one and I am not telling! I still hope that it will be rectified…

What is the first or most important thing you tell your students about parliaments?

That Parliaments matter because politics matter.

Where were you born, where did you grow up, and where do you live now?

Louth, Lincolnshire – my family were firmly rooted in the county – and I retain my links with the town. I have been a governor of my old school, Louth King Edward VI Grammar School, for more than thirty years and am presently in my second stint as Warden of the School. Upon my appointment to the Department in Hull, I moved to the city – I was made an honorary Freeman in 2016 – and since getting my peerage have divided my time between living in Hull and London.

What was your first job?

Temporary Lecturer in Politics at the University of Sheffield. I interrupted my PhD at the university to complete a Master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania as a Thouron Scholar and while there got a letter asking if I would take up a temporary lectureship on my return to fill in for Dr Noah Lucas who was on research leave.

What was the toughest job you ever had?

Possibly being head of department and taking over at a difficult time when the previous head suddenly quit. I took it on at short notice while not only maintaining my full teaching load, but also while chairing the House of Lords Constitution Committee.

What are your hobbies?

Don’t have much time for hobbies as such – when I said politics was my consuming passion I should have said all-consuming. I do, though, enjoy travelling (of which more below). As an inveterate tea-drinker, I love finding tea-shops, in essence anywhere that serves good tea and has character, which can range from a station cafeteria to Betty’s or the Goring Hotel. I also find time for dining out with friends and the occasional theatre visit.

What is your favourite music?

Classical music is the Rolls Royce of music in that it is designed to last. Since the 1960s, modern music has increasingly demonstrated built-in obsolescence. It is so ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ that I don’t keep up with it anymore.

What are your favourite pieces of artwork?

Dutch Old Masters, largely as a result of discovering the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

What is your favourite building?

The obvious I’m afraid – the Palace of Westminster. It has the awe-inspiring effect intended by Barry and Pugin. Even now, when it is seriously showing signs of its age, it continues to have the same impact when I walk in as it did on the first day I turned up as a member.

What is your favourite tv show?

Top of a lengthy (and somewhat eclectic) list is ‘Yes, Prime Minister’, largely for the wonderful combination of humour and politics as well as the scripts and casting. To my mind, the best episode is ‘The Key’. I still play episodes and will regularly quote from it.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Don’t do traditional holidays – haven’t done one since I was about 21 – but love travelling, usually undertaken when going to deliver conference papers or speak at parliaments. Travelled to different continents – most remarkable experience was when I was in Mexico and had a four-man bodyguard throughout my stay – but especially jump at opportunities to deliver papers at venues within Europe because I can get there by train. I do occasionally get away for a weekend break – usually to Amsterdam, Edinburgh or Paris.

What is your favourite sport?

Don’t have one in terms of watching. In terms of playing, I played table-tennis competitively when I was young – among other things Louth town champion, junior champion (have the shields to prove it), participant in some national tournaments, and captain of the University team. I still have my captain’s tie.

Boothroyd or Bercow?

Pass. They are both friends of mine.

Restoration or Renewal?

Like the dictionary, have trouble with the ‘or’.

Cat or Dog?

Cat.

Fish and chips or Curry?

Fish and chips.

Tea or coffee?

Tea. Lots of it.

Planes, trains or automobiles?

Trains. Hate planes, love trains.

And, finally, a question asked by 8-year-old Seth: Would you rather walk on Lego in your socks for five minutes, or talk to the most boring person in the world for an hour?

I have no experience of walking on Lego, with or without socks (though, given how accident prone I am, it is always possible), whereas I am well experienced at talking to the most boring person in the world for an hour or more. I would opt for the latter as I know I can listen while mentally writing an article.

Photo by Chris McAndrew (used under license CC by 3.0)