Dr. John Denham

Biography

John Denham is a Professorial Research Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Southampton, where he also serves as the Director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics. With over twenty years of experience, Denham has focused on how national identities in England have gained political significance, particularly reflected in elections and the EU referendum. His interests lie in the formation of identities and their governance, exploring England's role within the UK. He was a Labour Member of Parliament for Southampton Itchen from 1992 to 2015, serving as a Minister from 1997 to 2003 and again from 2007 to 2010. Denham held his final ministerial role as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and chaired the Home Affairs Select Committee from 2003 to 2007. In 2015, he established the Centre for English Identity and Politics at the University of Winchester, which later transferred to Southampton in 2019. The Centre runs a program of public webinars and seminars, and Denham regularly researches, writes, and speaks on identity issues in England, with a particular focus on how the Labour Party responds to changing patterns of national identity in relation to politics. He contributes to the work of Public Policy at the University, enabling researchers to understand and maximize their real-world policy impact, and is the founding Director of the Southern Policy Centre, an independent regional think tank.

Research Interests

Experience