Chris Hanretty

I carry out research in two broad areas. One area concerns representation, and in particular the link between what constituents think and what their representatives in Parliament do. As part of this area, I develop methodologies for estimating public opinion in small areas.

A second area of research concerns the politics of the judiciary. Our courts increasingly take decisions in matters that, once upon a time, would have been described as exclusively political in nature. I am interested in how judges take decisions, and whether the effect of their decisions is to advantage some interests in society (governmental interests, interests of experienced litigants) rather than others.

I've worked with a large number of media organisations to help anticipate the likely results of elections, not always successfully. I've worked with a range of companies to provide consultancy services on matters related to my research, and I try as far as possible to to ensure my research reaches a wider public by blogging regularly, tweeting, and giving evidence to parliamentary committees.