Forthcoming Meeting

Professor of Political Science at the University of Edinburgh, Professor Ailsa Henderson conducts research on political culture(s) and political behaviour in federal and multi-national states.

She runs the Scottish Election Study, co-runs the State of the Union survey, and publishes widely on national identity and political behaviour.  Associate Dean for Research Impact at the University of Edinburgh she is also Deputy Chair of the Politics & International Studies sub-panel for REF and Chair of Boundaries Scotland, which sets electoral boundaries for local and devolved elections in Scotland.

Using data from the ESRC-funded Scottish Election Study, Professor Henderson will explain predictors of vote choice, examining the role of constitutional preferences, identities and values.  This will also include an analysis of tactical voting and the nature of party contests across Scotland’s constituencies and regions, and reflect on what the results might mean for political debate over the next five years.

Alison Payne, Research Director, Enlighten, will provide her assessment and reflections on the election result following the analysis by Professor Henderson.

Alison has been the research director of the think tank, Enlighten, (formerly known as Reform Scotland) since 2008. An Economics and Politics graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Alison has over 25 years’ experience working in Scottish politics, including six years at the Scottish Parliament working for the Scottish Conservatives, and is also a regular contributor to Scotland Tonight’s ‘Monday Night Panel’.

Ahead of the election Enlighten joined calls from other bodies such as the RSE, Audit Scotland and the Scottish Fiscal Commission in warning that the next Parliament would face a perfect storm of declining tax revenues, a shrinking working-age population and growing demand for services. As a result, there needed to be a shift away from a politics which focused on spending and inputs, to one centred around outputs, service delivery and value for money.

Difficult decisions and political courage would be required to delivery long-term sustainability and improvement over short-term political gains. But what might this mean for our public services and institutions such as our universities?

Reflecting on the parties’ manifestos, the campaign and the election results, Alison will consider whether the warnings have been heeded and what the next five years of policy discussion in Scotland might look like.