Richard Hayton

Dr. Richard Hayton is an Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Leeds, affiliated with the School of Politics and International Studies within the Faculty of Social Sciences. His research focuses on British party politics, political ideologies, and national identity, with a particular emphasis on the Conservative Party, Brexit, and Englishness. He co-directs the Centre for Democratic Politics and serves as Editor of the British Journal of Politics and International Relations.

Hayton holds a PhD and has held editorial roles for multiple journals. His work on Conservative modernization, leadership dynamics, and territorial politics has been widely published. He secured a White Rose Collaboration Fund grant to study Northern England governance. He has supervised numerous PhD students, including Oliver Booth and Ryan Swift, exploring topics like party factionalism and regional identity.

His research interests include Euroscepticism, constitutional reform, and the politics of national identity. He co-authored studies on post-Brexit UK-Australia relations and contributed to special issues on coalition politics and conservative statecraft. Awards include Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Hayton's advisory roles include the Political Studies Association and the Centre for Democratic Politics. His grants and collaborations reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary research, linking party politics, identity, and governance. He maintains active social media engagement via Twitter and Google Scholar.