Mr Alistair Jones

Job: Associate Professor and University Teacher Fellow

Faculty: Arts, Design and Humanities

School/department: School of Humanities and Performing Arts

Research group(s): Local Governance Research Centre

Address: The Gateway, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK, LE1 9BH

T: +44 (0)116 2078787

E: anjones@dmu.ac.uk

W: https://www.dmu.ac.uk/pol

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Research group affiliations

Local Governance Research Centre (LGRC)

Publications and outputs

The Future of Local Councils
dc.title: The Future of Local Councils dc.contributor.author: Giovannini, Arianna; Griggs, Steven; Jones, Alistair; Parker, Stephen; Rose, Jonathan dc.description: Report on a survey of local council clerks in England and Wales, about their role, their operations and their future
Levelling Up in England: The strange omission of sub-municipal government
dc.title: Levelling Up in England: The strange omission of sub-municipal government dc.contributor.author: Jones, Alistair dc.description.abstract: The UK government is very keen to promote the idea of 'levelling up'. This is about enabling the more deprived parts of the UK (and specifically England) to access various forms of funding to develop projects to assist the local economy and society. There is also encouragement to establish new bodies to assist in these developments, as well as empowering those already in existence. Yet there is one area that, while mentioned, is not really targeted: sub-municipal government. Sub-municipal government in England is much derided, and (for the most part) wrongly so. This is the one tier of government that has that close contact with the public; that is able to find out what is needed, and to deliver. Yet central government has chosen to ignore this tier. Instead, they look to the establishment of new, unaccountable bodies, in the mistaken belief that such bodies are better at service delivery. This paper is going to explore some of the thinking behind this omission, and to highlight the extent to which sub-municipal government in England has an essential role to play in the levelling up project.
Do we need urban parish councils? The problems in England
dc.title: Do we need urban parish councils? The problems in England dc.contributor.author: Jones, Alistair dc.description.abstract: The current UK government appears very keen to promote devolution through the levelling up agenda. Some of this is clearly aimed at forms of regional government, although confusingly described as devolving to the local. There is also a clear push to encourage sub-municipal organisations to get involved due to their close links with the community. In fact, the government is very keen for the establishment of sub-municipal organisations to assist in this levelling up agenda. Within the documentation, parish and town councils – the most obvious form of sub-municipal government – hardly get a mention. The creation of such bodies is not mentioned. Yet these bodies can be among the most effective routes in finding out what services are needed and how to deliver them. Such sub-municipalities are prominent in rural England. There are over 9 000 sub-municipalities, the vast majority of which are ‘rural’ or ‘semi-rural’. There are some large urban sub-municipalities – Queen’s Park (in London), the city of Salisbury, Sutton Coldfield, to name but three. Yet these are a distinct minority. The aim of this paper is to explore why such sub-municipalities are so rare in England. Some of this is down to a lack of sub-local leadership. In other instances, local councils have devolved small amounts of expenditure to the ward level, and have encouraged the creation of neighbourhood councils. There is also the issue of identity. People may, for example, describe themselves as living in a particular suburb of a town or city - but only to fellow residents of said city, or those who live nearby. This lack of identity is problematic. If central government was to push for the parishing of all of England, there would be significant issues in drawing the boundaries of the proposed parishes, as well as the allocation of powers and finances.
Teaching Local and Regional Governance
dc.title: Teaching Local and Regional Governance dc.contributor.author: Jones, Alistair dc.description.abstract: This chapter examines how local and regional governance is taught, using the subject of the UK as a case study. The topic is particularly challenging because the UK does not have a standardised system of regional and local government. Each of the four countries is different. Added to that, the system in England is not uniform, and the concept of a 'regional' identity is not strong. As a consequences, the teaching of this subject differs in each of the countries. In Scotland, for example, priority is given to the Scottish Government over the Westminster Government. Local government, in all systems, is sadly neglected, but to varying degrees. A further complication is how to teach the systems of UK regional and local government to non-UK nationals, be it overseas students studying in the UK or teaching the subject matter overseas. Having experiences of both, I will draw on these in illuminating both the difficulties and the rewards in teaching this subject matter.
Putting the action into Politics: embedding employability in the academic curriculum
dc.title: Putting the action into Politics: embedding employability in the academic curriculum dc.contributor.author: Jones, Alistair; Lishman, Ros dc.description.abstract: Employability is one of these concepts that polarises opinion. There are those who see it as an integral part of student education and learning, and those who see it as undermining conventional academic study. In this paper, we argue it is a key part of student learning experiences and use a case study of a particular module—'Politics in Action'—to highlight the potential benefits to students. This should be seen in conjunction with the rest of a degree programme, where employability maybe embedded but not prioritised. Student feedback reinforces the potential benefits of prioritising employability in one part of a degree programme, while acknowledging the beneficial spillover into other areas of study. There is, however, potential resource cost in adopting this type of approach to delivering such a bespoke module. It is far from being a conventional module, but the impact and benefits to student learning and understanding are clear. dc.description: The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.
Alike in Diversity? Local Action Groups in Nine European Countries
dc.title: Alike in Diversity? Local Action Groups in Nine European Countries dc.contributor.author: Jones, Alistair; Copus, Colin; Lysek, Jakub; Krukowska, Joanna; Navarro, Carmen dc.description.abstract: Local Action Groups (LAGs) are seen as an integral part in the development of rural economies across the EU. They are a strong network of interaction between the local state and society. Yet what is unclear is the extent to which LAGs operate in a similar manner across different countries. Their remit is detailed clearly through the EU; their activities and operations, however, may differ significantly. For example, in some countries LAGs operate beyond the rural environment. This chapter explores the diversity and uniformity of the LAGs included in the survey, to assess the self-perceptions of their role and importance to civil society.
Combined Authorities: A Loss of Urban Identity or Urban Imperialism?
dc.title: Combined Authorities: A Loss of Urban Identity or Urban Imperialism? dc.contributor.author: Jones, Alistair; Wall, Rachel dc.description.abstract: As a result of devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the UK government has turned its attention to England, and a new legislative framework has been introduced for devolution to English local government. The latest wave of reform is focused on governance structures and a form of territorial re-scaling – the creation of combined authorities, headed by elected mayors. Combined authorities are created where groups of local councils can enter negotiations with government to agree the devolution of powers and finances through a ‘devolution deal’. This process of reshaping the institutional settings within metropolitan regions has implications for the existing political relationships and territorial identities which are being combined into new ‘super authorities’. Political relations are being tested as municipalities within these regions seek to establish new institutions within which they can effectively govern within their own localities but also jointly across multiple geographical boundaries. There is also a question mark hanging over where the balance of power should lie within combined authorities, where different tiers of local government and different territorial interests (urban and suburban/rural) will have decision-making capacity. At the same time, existing territorial identities are also being tested, as these quasi-regional governing entities are established and senses of place are challenged.
The Ministerial Code of Conduct and Standards in Public Life – what on earth happened?
dc.title: The Ministerial Code of Conduct and Standards in Public Life – what on earth happened? dc.contributor.author: Jones, Alistair dc.description.abstract: Boris Johnson’s legacy is long-term damage to the concept and operation of ethical standards in government and public life
Teaching Local and Regional Governance
dc.title: Teaching Local and Regional Governance dc.contributor.author: Jones, Alistair dc.description.abstract: This paper examines how local and regional governance is taught, using the subject of the UK as a case study. The topic is particularly challenging because the UK does not have a standardised system of regional and local government. Each of the four countries is different. Added to that, the system in England is not uniform, and the concept of a 'regional' identity is not strong. As a consequence, the teaching of this subject differs in each of the countries. In Scotland, for example, priority is given to the Scottish Government over the Westminster Government. Local government, in all systems, is sadly neglected, but to varying degrees. A further complication is how to teach the systems of UK regional and local government to non-UK nationals, be it overseas students studying in the UK or teaching the subject matter overseas. Having experiences of both, I will draw on these in illuminating both the difficulties and the rewards in teaching this subject matter.
Conclusion: intra-state government - a stable dynamic
dc.title: Conclusion: intra-state government - a stable dynamic dc.contributor.author: Copus, Colin; Jones, Alistair; Kerley, Richard

Click here to view a full listing of Alistair Jones' publications and outputs.

Key research outputs

“Where has all the Public Administration gone?” This won the award for the best paper at the PAC annual conference 18-19 July 2012

Research interests/expertise

European Union, elections, English Parish Councils

Areas of teaching

British Politics

Politics of the European Union

Qualifications

BA (Hons) Political Science (Canterbury, New Zealand)
MA Political Science (Canterbury, New Zealand

Courses taught

Introduction to British Politics, Politics in Business, Politics of the European Union, Britain and European Integration

Honours and awards

Best Paper Award, PAC annual conference, Plymouth, July 2012
University Teacher Fellow, DMU, August 2014
Long Service Award, DMU, March 2017
Research Oscars, Faculty of Business and Law, DMU, for Research Engagement in the Media, July 2019

Membership of external committees

Public Administration Committee, member of the Executive Committee since 2008
Joint University Council, member of the Executive since 2008
European Urban Research Association, member of the Executive Committee since 2019

Projects

Parish Councils in England
Local Government engagement with civil society. I am working on the English part of this European project

Forthcoming events

I am co-convening the PAC annual conference at DMU, September 2021

Conference attendance

R. Lishman and A. Jones; "Putting the Action into Politics: Embedding Employability in the Academic Curriculum" Paper to the ECPR (European Consortium for Political Research) annual conference (virtual), 24-29 August 2020

“Parish Councils – a real resurgence?” Paper to the PAC (Public Administration Committee) annual conference, University of Northumbria, 17-18 September 2019

Convenor of a panel for the ECPR annual conference, “Teaching Politics and IR to Non-Subject Students”, Wrocław, Poland, 4-7 September 2019

“Teaching Public Affairs – The Cinderella Subject of Journalism Courses” Paper to the ECPR annual conference, Wrocław, Poland, 4-7 September 2019, with Tor Clark

Speaker at a Faculty seminar at Liaoning National University, China, entitled “Me and My Teaching” 7 November 2018

“Parish Councils and Councillors: a resurgence in the most local tier of government in England?” Paper to the ECPR annual conference, Hamburg, Germany 22-26 August 2018

“Are we doing them a dis-service? Preparing students to study overseas: a case study of Chinese students and British Culture” Paper to the ECPR annual conference, Hamburg, Germany 22-26 August 2018

“Are we learning from the old? A case study of Welsh local government restructuring” Paper to the European Urban Research Association (EURA) annual conference, Tilburg, Netherlands, 20-23 June 2018

“Restructuring Local Government - It's not just central interference: A case study of Wales” Paper to the ECPR 2017 Annual Conference, Oslo, Norway, 6-9 September, 2017

“What is 'Good Governance'? A Model of 'Good Governance' for restructuring English Local Government” Paper to the EURA 2017 Annual Conference, Warsaw, Poland, 21-24 June, 2017

“Combined Authorities: Urban imperialism or loss of urban identity?” Rachel Wall and Alistair Jones. Paper to the EURA 2017 Annual Conference, Warsaw, Poland, 21-24 June, 2017

"Independent Politics in Wales: Diverse practices but needing a permanent presence” Paper to the EURA 2016 Annual Conference, Torino, Italy, 16-18 June 2016

C.Copus and A.Jones; "Restructuring Welsh Local Government: Lesson-learning from New Zealand", EURA annual conference, "Transforming cities, transformative cities" University of Lucian Braga in Sibiu, Romania, 17-20 September 2015

T. Clark and A.Jones; "Teaching Public Affairs - the Cinderella Subject of Journalism courses", UK Association for Journalism Educational annual conference - The Future of Journalism Education, University of Greenwich, 25-26 June 2015

T. Clark and A.Jones; "Not what they want but what they need - teaching Politics to Journalism students" Student Transitions - the Triad of Understanding Learning and Teaching conference, De Montfort University, 3 September 2014

"Junior Ministers: Are they really political eunuchs?", PAC annual conference, Edinburgh, 9-11 September 2013

“Where has all the Public Administration gone?” PAC annual conference, 18-19 July 2012. This won the award for the best paper at the conference

Key articles information

Copus, C. and Jones, A. 'Welsh Local Government Association Literature Review on Council Size: Commission on Public Service Governance & Delivery Service Provider Consultation'

Consultancy work

Worked with the Council of Europe to advise the Parliament of Ukraine on ethics and accountability in local government, 2017; compiled a literature review to inform the Welsh Local Government Association's submission to the Williams Committee on public sector governance and delivery, 2014. Currently available

Current research students

Rachel Wall, full time, second supervisor
Lynn Wyeth, part-time, second supervisor

Media work

Below are some of my most recent media appearance:

11 December 2020 - BBC Asian Network, where I discussed the state of play in relation to the Brexit negotiations

7 December 2020 - RT UK, where I discussed the impact of the Internal Market legislation (which was returning to the House of Commons) and the impact on the Brexit trade negotiations. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA0IhKJg7w4

1 December 2020 - BBC Radio Leicester, where there was an interview on one month until the end of the Brexit Transition Period, and what is likely to happen

29 November 2020 - Sputnik International, where I discussed the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle in the New Year. Available at https://www.companynewshq.com/coronavirus-news/bojo-is-in-difficult-balancing-act-if-stays-on-as-both-pm-and-conservative-leader-professor-says/

23 November 2020 - Sputnik UK, where I discussed the possibility of a No Deal Brexit. Available at https://player.fm/series/radio-sputnik/no-brexit-deal-for-britain-if-the-uk-doesnt-abide-by-eu-state-aids-rules-says-professor

19 November 2020 - RT UK, where I discussed the possibility of a backbench rebellion over plans to extend the Covid lockdown. Available at https://www.facebook.com/RTUKnews/videos/growing-tory-group-could-rebel-against-johnson/1052708958503670/

15 November 2020 - Daily Express, where I was interviewed over the impact of the US Presidential election results on Brexit (available at https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1360012/brexit-news-uk-us-trade-deal-boris-johnson-joe-biden-internal-market-bill-northern-ireland), and on Keir Starmer and Labour's anti-semitism inquiry

3 November 2020 - RT UK, where I examined the future of the Union

ORCID number

orcid.org/0000-0002-4540-563X