Dr Laura Richards-Gray
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Overview
Overview
Biography
I am a Lecturer in British Politics in the Department of Politics at Birkbeck. I joined Birkbeck in January 2020 after completing my PhD at Queen Mary, University of London. I previously worked in research and policy positions in the public and private sector, including at the Electoral Commission, the Audit Commission and Ipsos MORI. I have also worked for a political party and served as a local councillor.
My research interests are gender and the welfare state with a focus on British politics.
In term 1 2023/24 I will be teaching Modern British Politics (PG) and Qualitative Social Research Methods (PG). I will be on research leave in term 2.
I am Programme Director for Birkbeck's MSc Politics and Postgraduate Education Lead for the School of Social Sciences.
I supervise postgraduate dissertation students and PhD students focusing on British politics and/or gender and politics.
Office hours
Appointments are available on request.
Administrative responsibilities
- Postgraduate Education Lead, School of Social Sciences
- Programme Director MSc Politics
ORCID
0000-0001-9957-1249 -
Supervision and teaching
Supervision and teaching
Supervision
I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students who are interested in undertaking research in any of my areas of research interest i.e. gender, political participation, political representation, the welfare state and British politics.
Teaching
Teaching modules
- Power and Politics in the UK (POSO020S7)
- Foundations of Social and Political Science (SSPO017S4)
- Qualitative Social Research Methods (SSPO242H7)
- Dissertation MSc Politics (SSPO244D7)
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Publications
Publications
Article
- Richards-Gray, Laura (2024) Why are we waiting? The five-week wait for Universal Credit and food insecurity among food sector workers in the UK. Journal of Poverty ISSN 1087-5549.
- Worthy, Ben and Richards-Gray, Laura and Smith, J.C. (2023) Remind you of anyone? Comparing the gendered heroic leadership of Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May. British Politics ISSN 1746-918X.
- Richards-Gray, Laura (2023) Filling in the middle: the “Workless” frame in action in UK welfare reform. European Journal of Politics and Gender 6 (1), pp. 40-57. ISSN 2515-1088.
- Richards-Gray, Laura (2022) Political discourse and gendered welfare reform: a case study of the UK coalition government. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion & Parties 32 (2), pp. 358-376. ISSN 1745-7289.
- Richards-Gray, Laura (2022) A problem shared? The role of the public in the legitimation of policy: a case study of gendered welfare change in the United Kingdom. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society 29 (2), pp. 536-559. ISSN 1072-4745.