Fiona Simpkins

Fiona Simpkins is a Lecturer in English studies at Lumière Lyon-2 University since 2010, specializing in British and Scottish politics. She holds a PhD from Lyon 2 University (2008) and has served in academic roles at institutions like Nice-Sophia Antipolis and Nice-Sophia Antipolis. Her research focuses on UK constitutional debates, Scottish devolution, Brexit impacts, and political nationalism. She has organized major conferences, including the 2021 'State of the Union' congress and the 2017 UK general election analysis. Awards include the 2009 Franco-Scottish Thesis Prize. Her work spans over 25 scholarly publications, emphasizing electoral strategies, unionism dynamics, and SNP policies. She frequently engages media for commentary on UK political developments.

• Education: PhD in English Studies (Lumière Lyon-2 University, 2008)
• Affiliations: Triangle UMR 5206, CRECIB research network

Research Interests: Fiona examines territorial politics in the UK, particularly Scottish devolution's evolution post-1997. Her work analyzes intra-British nationalisms, the SNP's role, and Brexit's divisive effects. She explores how political parties navigate constitutional crises, electoral strategies, and unionist vs. separatist ideologies. Recent focus includes gender recognition policy debates and post-pandemic governance challenges in Scotland.

Key Contributions: Her 2024 book chapter on gender reform and unionist strategy, 2023 analysis of Scottish Labour Party dynamics, and 2022 studies on Liz Truss's leadership and SNP pandemic management highlight her expertise. Articles in Revue française de civilisation britannique and Politique internationale underscore her interdisciplinary approach.

• Grants & Funding: Funded projects include AHRC-backed studies on UK conservatism and Triangle-supported conferences.
• Media Engagement: Regular contributor to The Conversation, France Culture, and RFI on UK political crises.

Labs/Teams: Core member of Triangle research unit (political sociology) and CRECIB (British Civilisation Centre). Collaborates with EHIC, ILCEA4, and Sorbonne institutions on UK studies.