Who Pays and Who Speaks? Reforming Democracy in the UK

Democracy in the UK is under strain. Many voters feel deeply alienated from politics, believing that those elected to represent them often pursue narrow or personal interests rather than the public good. Political polarisation, intensified by changes in the media landscape, is undermining constructive debate. And for many citizens, it can feel as though money (rather than votes) is what really speaks loudest in politics.Against this backdrop, there is growing interest in how democratic systems might be reformed to function better and become more resilient. A wide range of proposals has emerged, tackling different aspects of democratic decline. While we can’t cover them all in a single episode, today’s discussion focuses on two specific reform ideas explored in recent articles published in the journal The Political Quarterly.The first examines the role of donations to political parties, asking how political finance shapes power, influence, and public trust in the democratic system. The second looks at the position of smaller parties in the House of Commons, exploring how parliamentary procedures affect their ability to contribute meaningfully to debate and scrutiny.To discuss these ideas, we’re joined by the authors of both pieces:Iain McMenamin, Professor of Comparative Politics at Dublin City University, is an expert on political finance and co-author of the article on party donations.Louise Thompson, Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Manchester, is a leading scholar of parliamentary politics and the author of the study on the role of small parties in the Commons.Together, we explore whether reforming party funding and giving smaller parties a stronger voice in Parliament could help rebuild trust, improve representation, and strengthen UK democracy.Mentioned in this episode:‘Unbroken, but Dangerous: The UK’s Political Finance Regime and the Rationale for Reform’, by Logan De la Torre, Kevin Fahey, and Iain McMenamin 'Modernising the House: Why the 2024 Parliament Highlights the Need to Formalise Party-Group Rights in the House of Commons’, by Louise Thompson.   UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.

Our world faces a growing set of challenges that transcend national borders - from climate change and pandemic threats to the governance of emerging technologies and the protection of public goods. Yet political authority and decision making remain overwhelmingly rooted in sovereign states. How, then, can global challenges be tackled effectively?In this special episode, we turn to the concept of global governance - the institutions, norms, and practices through which collective action is coordinated beyond the nation state. Joining us is Professor Tom Pegram, Director of the UCL Global Governance Institute and Programme Director of the MSc in Global Governance and Ethics in the UCL Department of Political Science.Tom recently delivered his inaugural lecture as Professor of Global Politics at UCL, titled “Crisis? What Crisis? Rethinking Global Governance Through the Lens of Crisis.” Drawing on that lecture and his wider body of work, this conversation ranges across his academic career and explores how moments of crisis, from financial shocks and pandemics to democratic backsliding and climate emergencies, both expose the limits of existing governance arrangements and create opportunities for innovation and reform.Mentioned in this episode:Prof Pegram's lecture on YouTubeReflexive legitimation conflict: trumpism and the crisis of legitimacy in global AI governance in Global Public Policy and Governance.  UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.

Climate change is exerting increasingly profound effects on societies across the globe. Policy responses are often described as resting on three pillars. The first involves addressing the causes of climate change by reducing carbon emissions and improving carbon capture. Experts tend to refer to this as mitigation. The second concerns adapting to the climate impacts that are already unavoidable in order to reduce the harm they cause, for example by raising sea walls or improving the heat resilience of homes. This is known as adaptation. The third pillar deals with the harms that nevertheless arise, asking who should bear the associated costs and whether these harms can ever truly be compensated. This has come to be known as loss and damage.This episode focuses on that third pillar. Although the definition above is one way to understand loss and damage, it is far from the only one. The concept is contested, and the way it is framed varies between different actors in international climate negotiations. Competing definitions are used strategically in order to influence outcomes.These contests over meaning are only one example of the processes that shape international climate talks. Such processes can construct or, at times, manipulate the negotiation environment, and those with the greatest power often exert the greatest influence over how these processes unfold.A new book explores how these shaping forces operate within the loss and damage arena and argues that they are having a significant effect on the effectiveness of the global response to climate change, and not always for the better.Prof Alan Renwick's guest this episode is the author of that book, Professor Lisa Vanhala of the UCL Department of Political Science, UCL Pro-Vice Provost for the Grand Challenge Theme of the Climate Crisis, and a longstanding friend of the podcast.Mentioned in this episode:Governing the End. The Making of Climate Change Loss and Damage  UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.

It’s often said that when a government faces political trouble, nothing boosts public support quite like a threat to national security. History offers vivid examples — from the surge in backing for Margaret Thatcher during the 1982 Falklands War to the Bush administration’s post-9/11 unity wave. But can governments find other ways to rally citizens without invoking fear or conflict?In this episode, we explore a fascinating new study that suggests they can — by turning to moral issues instead of security ones. Our guest, Dr. Daniel Schulte, Associate Lecturer in Protest, Revolution & Qualitative Methods at UCL’s Department of Political Science, discusses his research on how governments may use moral framing to distract or unite publics when under pressure, drawing on experimental evidence from Turkey.Mentioned in this episode:Rallying around the mosque or flag: The effects of morality and security agenda setting on political performance in Turkey. Mediterranean Politics.  UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.

In this episode, we explore a crucial yet often overlooked question: how does war affect people’s support for democracy? Around the world, conflicts continue to shape societies and political systems—but the impact on democratic values and attitudes remains complex and contested.Host Prof Alan Renwick is joined by Kristin Bakke, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at UCL, head of the Conflict and Change research cluster, and a returning guest of the podcast. Together, they discuss new research from Ukraine that sheds light on how exposure to war influences people’s democratic commitments.Mentioned in this episode:Kristin M Bakke, Marianne Dahl, and Kit Rickard. Conflict exposure and democratic values: Evidence from wartime Ukraine.Journal of Peace Research special issue on Political Violence in Democracies   UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.

Gaza is — often for tragic reasons — frequently in the headlines. In this episode, recorded on October 16, 2025, we take a step back from breaking news to explore Gaza’s deeper history: how the events of the 20th and 21st centuries have shaped the territory, its people, and its politics.Our guide through this complex and often painful story is Dr Julie Norman, Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at UCL and co-author of the new book Gaza: The Dream and the Nightmare.It’s a history that probably few of us know in any detail. But understanding Gaza’s story so far is essential for thinking about Gaza today and about what path Gaza may take in the future.Mentioned in this episode:Gaza: The Dream and the Nightmare, by Julie M Norman and Maia Carter Hallward   UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.

When we talk about funding healthcare, most of us think of hospitals, waiting lists, and limited budgets. But what about fertility — and the question of whether everyone should have the chance, or even the right, to have children?At a time of intense pressure on public spending, should the state cover the cost of fertility treatment? That question depends on what kind of good we think fertility treatment is. Is it simply another part of healthcare, like cancer treatment, competing for the same limited funds? Or does fertility occupy a different moral space — something unique that society has a special reason to support?To help us think through these questions, our host Emily McTernan is joined by Dr. Giulia Cavaliere, Lecturer in Engaged Philosophy at UCL.Mentioned in this episode:Guilia Cavaliere "Fertility treatment, valuable life projects and social norms: in defence of defending (reproductive) preferences".  UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.

Across many democracies, far-right movements are gaining momentum — a trend that worries policymakers, researchers, and citizens alike. A common explanation points to material hardship: when people feel left behind economically and socially, they often turn to radical political alternatives. One critical dimension of this hardship is housing — especially the lack of affordable and secure homes. Could building more affordable housing help reduce support for far-right parties?New research provides a nuanced answer. It finds that expanding access to social housing does seem to lower far-right support — but only in areas with low immigration. In communities where immigration is already high, the effect reverses.To unpack why this is happening, and what it means for policymakers, host Prof Alan Renwick speaks with Dr. Gloria Gennaro, Lecturer in Public Policy and Data Science at UCL’s Department of Political Science. Dr. Gennaro shares insights from her latest study, exploring how housing policy, economic insecurity, and social dynamics intersect with political behavior.Mentioned in this episode:Immigration, Public Housing and Support for the French National Front by Gloria Gennaro  UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.

In this special episode, we take a deep dive into the ideas and career of our esteemed colleague and friend of the podcast, Professor Veronika Fikfak. Following her inaugural lecture as Professor of Human Rights and International Law at UCL’s Department of Political Science, we use the occasion to explore broader themes in international law, human rights, and academic life.Veronika brings a wealth of experience from institutions across Europe, including Oxford, Cambridge, Copenhagen, and London. She currently serves as co-director of UCL’s Institute for Human Rights and as an ad hoc judge at the European Court of Human Rights. Her leadership of two major European Research Council-funded projects places her at the forefront of cutting-edge human rights scholarship.Mentioned in this episode:Prof Fikfak's inaugural lecture on YouTubeProf Fikfak's staff profile page and publicationsHuman Rights Nudge project  UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.

The 2024 UK General Election was nothing short of exceptional. Labour achieved one of the largest majorities in the history of the House of Commons — yet on the lowest vote share ever recorded for a winning party. Meanwhile, the Conservatives suffered their most devastating defeat in modern political history.In this episode, we unpack the seismic shifts that led to this remarkable result. Why did the vote fragment across so many parties? What drove the electorate’s choices in this cycle? And what happened to the underlying dynamics of voting behavior?To explore these questions, we turn to a special issue of The Political Quarterly, our partner journal, which dives into the election’s implications and causes in depth.Joining us are three distinguished contributors to that issue:Professor Jane Green – Professor of Political Science and British Politics, University of OxfordProfessor Paula Surridge – Professor of Political Sociology, University of BristolMarta Miori– Research Officer on British Electoral Behaviour, PhD candidate at the University of ManchesterTogether, they provide expert insights into both the immediate drivers of the 2024 result and the longer-term transformations reshaping UK politics.Mentioned in this episode:Miori, M. and Green, J. (2025), The Most Disproportionate UK Election: How the Labour Party Doubled its Seat Share with a 1.6-Point Increase in Vote Share in 2024. The Political Quarterly, 96: 37-64.Surridge, P. (2025), Values in the Valence Election: Fragmentation and the 2024 General Election. The Political Quarterly, 96: 26-36.  UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.