Professor Kevin Theakston
Professor of British Government; Head of School
I am the Head of School of Politics and International Studies.
I am a specialist in British government and politics. I have a long-standing interest in Whitehall, the civil service and government ministers, and have written several books on those subjects. British prime ministers are a major focus of my current research and teaching. My latest book was on the lives and careers of former prime ministers from the 18th century to the present.
I am also interested in constitutional issues and constitutional reform, and in the life and career of Sir Winston Churchill, and have written on those subjects too. Some of my work has a strongly historical character and I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. But I am also regularly interviewed by the mass media about contemporary political issues and developments, appearing on or being quoted by BBC radio programmes, Sky News and many newspapers.
Research Interests
I am currently working on various projects theories of leadership and British prime ministers; former leaders in Western democracies; the record of the 1945-51 Labour Government.
Teaching
My teaching interests cover institutional, constitutional and historical aspects of British government. I teach on undergraduate modules on 'British Politics', 'British Central Government', and 'Prime Ministers and British Politics'. I also teach on the postgraduate module 'Developments in British Politics'.
PhD Supervision
I am currently supervising postgraduate research on the statecraft of the Heath Government 1970-74 and on the leadership of John Major as prime minister 1990-97. I welcome research applications and proposals on projects relating to British politics and government, political leadership, constitutional issues, and political biography.
Key Publications
Books
- Theakston, K. (ed) (2011) Volumes of Influence. Manchester University Press.
- Theakston, K. (2010) After Number 10 Former Prime Ministers in British Politics. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Theakston, K. (2004) Winston Churchill and the British constitution. Politico's Publishing.
- Theakston, K. (ed.) (2004) British Foreign Secretaries Since 1974. Routledge.
- Theakston, K. (1999) Leadership in Whitehall. Macmillan.
Chapters in Books
- Theakston, K. (2011) ‘Walter Bagehot The English Constitution’, in Kevin Theakston (ed) (2011) Volumes of Influence. Manchester University Press.
- Theakston, K. (2008) ‘The Whitehall Model Ministers and Civil Servants in 20th century Britain’, in Anna Gianna Manca and Fabio Rugge (eds) Governo rappresentativo e dirigenze amministrative (secoli XIX-XX), Bologna, Italy, Societa editriceil Mulino.
- Theakston, K. (2006) ‘Whitehall Reform’, in Peter Dorey (ed), The 1964-70 Labour Governments London, Routledge.
Journals
- Theakston, K. and Gill, M. (2011) ‘The Postwar Premiership League’, Political Quarterly, vol. 82, no. 1.
- Theakston, K. (2011) ‘Gordon Brown as prime minister political skills and leadership style’, British Politics, vol. 6, no.1.
- Theakston, K. (2007) 'What Makes for an Effective British Prime Minister?'. Quaderni di scienza politica, 14, pp.39-61.
- Theakston, K. (2006) 'After Number Ten: What Do Former Prime Ministers Do?' The Political Quarterly, 77(4), pp.448-456.
- Theakston, K.; Gill, M. (2006) 'Rating 20th-Century British Prime Ministers'. The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 8(2), pp.193-213.
Media Contact Areas
- British politics and government
- Political leadership
- Constitutional issues
Contact Details
- Room: SSB 13.05
- Tel: 0113 343 4391
- Fax:0113 343 4400
- Email: k.theakston@leeds.ac.uk
- Office hours: By appointment; please email Jenny Blackburn at j.l.blackburn@leeds.ac.uk