James Mitchell

James Mitchell is a Professor of Public Policy at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science. He holds a MA (Political Studies) from the University of Aberdeen and a D.Phil. (Oxford). His research focuses on British politics, devolution, public policy, territorial politics, and Scottish nationalism. He has supervised over 30 years of PhDs and Masters in public policy, devolution, and constitutional politics. Key research themes include fiscal accountability in Scotland, party membership surges post-referendum, and multi-level governance.

Research Projects:

• ESRC-funded study on SNP and Scottish Greens’ post-referendum membership growth
• Investigation of fiscal devolution’s accountability gaps
• Analysis of Scotland’s constitutional questions and local governance

Research Interests: Mitchell explores territorial politics, public service reform, and political behavior in sub-state governments. He has contributed to debates on Scottish independence, EU referendum impacts, and intergovernmental relations. Recent work includes studies on the SNP leadership contest (2023) and Holyrood’s fiscal structures.

Grants & Awards: He has secured grants from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for projects on party membership and constitutional dynamics. No specific scientific awards are listed, but his work is widely cited in political science and public policy.

Labs & Teams: He is part of the Territorial Politics Research Group and has collaborated on regional economic forecasting and governance studies. His work often bridges academia and policy, influencing debates on devolution and public finance.