This call for papers, from the editors of Parliamentary Affairs, is for a special section of the journal on the state of British politics in 2024/5. It will identify the key institutions, issues and challenges that need to be addressed by a new Government taking over in 2025, following the general election expected at the latest by the end of 2024.
The special section’s guest editors will propose five or six papers, including an introduction drawing out key themes and theoretical approaches. All papers and the special section will be peer reviewed.
The deadline for proposal submissions is 30 September 2023, with first drafts due at the end of January 2024.
The aim is to publish the special section in late 2024 or early 2025, to coincide with the general election.
Proposals should include: a summary of the overall special section and its contribution to wider theoretical and practical debates (at minimum, one page in length); titles; authors and their affiliations; and abstracts (of 250 words) for each paper proposed. The proposals should also contain a suggested timeline for delivery, alongside a list of potential reviewers. The guest editors will be responsible for submission of the papers. All papers will be subject to peer review. Prospective guest editors are recommended to contact the editors of Parliamentary Affairs in advance of submitting their proposal.
With a general election expected by the end of 2024, this special section of Parliamentary Affairs will consider the current state of British politics. After 14 years of Conservative-led rule, the UK is a very different state to the one governed by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition that came to power in 2010.
The UK is no longer part of the European Union, support for potential independence has grown in three parts of the Union, and the British party system has seen the rise, fall and influence of some significant non-mainstream parties. British institutions have been under considerable and sustained pressure, with parliamentary scrutiny and processes at the centre of much of this. Leadership has experienced large turnovers. Public opinion has seen a range of shocks, from the economic to the political. And public policy has struggled to cope against a variety of major challenges, including – but not only – the Coronavirus pandemic.
For queries, please do not hesitate to contact the editors of Parliamentary Affairs:
Alistair Clark (alistair.clark@ncl.ac.uk)
Louise Thomson (louise.thompson-4@manchester.ac.uk)
Alistair is Professor of Political Science at Newcastle University, where he teaches modules on Parliamentary Studies, UK Political Parties and Elections, and Public Policy. His research focuses on electoral integrity and administration, standards in public life, political parties, and devolution. He is the author of Political Parties in the UK (Palgrave) and is frequently invited to give evidence to parliamentary committees. In 2021, he served as an adviser to the House of Commons Standards Committee during its review of the MPs’ Code of Conduct and in 2019 he was an advisor to the Scottish Parliament's Finance and Constitution Committee in its scrutiny of the Referendums (Scotland) Bill. Alistair’s editorial work includes co-editing the European Consortium for Political Research Political Data Yearbook (2018–2022) and serving as deputy editor of the British Journal of Politics and International Relations (2009–2015). He has also been a trustee and executive member of the UK Political Studies Association.
Louise is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Manchester, where she teaches modules on Parliamentary Studies, Contemporary Issues in Politics and Law, and Research Methods in Politics. Her own research focuses on the UK Parliament, with a particular focus on the legislative process, committees, political parties, and public engagement. She is co-editor of the textbook Exploring Parliament (OUP, 2025) and the author or co-author of seven other books, including The End of the Small Party? Change UK and the Challenges of Parliamentary Politics (2020) and Making British Law: Committees in Action (2015). In 2022, she was an adviser on the BBC Radio 4 political dramaWhipped, and in 2024–2025 she served as a UK Parliament POST Academic Fellow with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. She has also held leadership roles within the discipline, including Academic Secretary to the Study of Parliament Group (2018–2022) and convenor of the Political Studies Association’s Parliaments Specialist Group (2014–2019).
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