Louise Thompson

Louise Thompson is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Manchester since 2018, following her tenure at the University of Surrey (2013–2018). Her research focuses on the UK Parliament, particularly legislative processes, committees, political parties, and public engagement. She co-edits the journal Parliamentary Affairs and authored/co-authored seven books, including Parliament and the Law (2022) and Making British Law: Committees in Action (2015). In 2022, she received the Political Studies Association’s Richard Rose Prize.

Teaching includes modules on parliamentary studies, research methods, and political analysis. She is co-editor of the upcoming textbook Exploring Parliament (OUP, 2025). Her external roles include Academic Secretary of the Study of Parliament Group (2018–2022) and Convenor of the PSA Parliaments Specialist Group (2014–2019).

Research interests include legislative scrutiny, small political parties, and the impact of crises like Brexit and the pandemic on parliamentary dynamics. Her work contributes to Sustainable Development Goals related to institutional governance and democratic processes. She has advised BBC Radio 4 and undertaken a UK Parliament POST Academic Fellowship (2024–25).