Dr Richard Jobson

My research interests lie in British political history since 1945 and, more specifically, the politics and history of the Labour Party. I am particularly interested in how British politics has been (and remains) shaped by emotionally-imbued identities rather than by rational considerations and calculated actions. My book Nostalgia and the Post-war Labour Party: Prisoners of the Past (MUP, 2018) explores the different ways in which nostalgia has impacted on Labour's political trajectory and hindered the party's capacity for modernisation.

I started my current role as Lecturer in 20th Century British History at the University of Exeter in September 2019. I teach a range of modern historical and political topics, including the Special Subject 'The Yes, Minister Files: Perspectives on British Government since 1914'.

I have previously lectured in Modern History at The Queen's College, University of Oxford and in Contemporary Political History at the University of Bristol. I have also worked as an Associate Research Fellow for the GW4 Alliance Modern British Politics and Political History research group.