Dr Nigel Fletcher

Biography

Dr Nigel Fletcher completed his PhD at King's on the history of the Official Opposition in the UK, and began teaching on the Politics and Contemporary History MA in 2017. He took his first degree in Politics at Queen Mary, University of London, where he was awarded the Professor Lord Smith Prize for his undergraduate dissertation on the Conservative Party in Opposition. He then worked for over a decade as a political and policy adviser in the House of Commons, the London Assembly and the Conservative Research Department. He also served many years as a Councillor in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, eventually becoming Leader of the Opposition.

The relative lack of research on political opposition prompted him to establish the Centre for Opposition Studies as an independent research organisation devoted to promoting the study of the subject. Dr Fletcher edited the book "How to be in Opposition" (Biteback, 2011), contributed a chapter to "Leaders of the Opposition from Churchill to Cameron" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012), and wrote “The Not Quite Prime Ministers: Leaders of the Opposition 1783-2020” (Biteback, 2023). His first academic monograph, “Institutionalised Dissent: The Official Opposition in the UK Since 1935”, was published by Routledge in 2024. He contributes regularly in the media on the subjects of opposition, political history and the constitution, with appearances on the BBC, Times Radio and numerous overseas broadcasters. He also presents the “OppositionCast” podcast, produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies.

Research

• Dr Fletcher's research interests include political opposition, UK political institutions and the constitution and British political history since 1945. He also has a special interest in the modern monarchy and its place in the constitution.

PhD Supervision

Nigel is unable to take on PhD supervision at present.

Publications

Books

• Institutionalised Dissent: The Official Opposition in the UK Since 1945 (Routledge, 2024)
• The Not Quite Prime Ministers- Leaders of the Opposition 1783-2020 (Biteback, 2023)
• How to Be in Opposition (Biteback Publishing, 2011) (Editor and contributor)

Chapters

• “Edward II” – Chapter in Kings and Queens, Ed. Iain Dale (Hodder and Stoughton, 2023)
• “The Earl of Derby” – Chapter in The Prime Ministers, Ed. Iain Dale (Hodder and Stoughton, 2020)
• “The Opposition at Westminster” in The Art of Opposition, Ed. Scott Prasser and Dr David Clune (Connor Court, 2024).
• (forthcoming): “Norman Fowler” in Thatcher’s Ministers, Ed. Antony Mullen Et.al (Palgrave Macmillan, 2025)
• “William Hague, 1997-2001” – Chapter in Leaders of the Opposition from Churchill to Cameron (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012)
• “Living in the Shadows – Making the Most of Opposition” – Chapter in A Blue Tomorrow (Politicos, 2001)

Blogposts

• Articles by Dr Fletcher on a variety of historical and constitutional issues can be found at his Substack
• Sue Gray quitting to work for Keir Starmer does cause problems for the civil service – it’s also a sign she thinks he’s heading for government” - The Conversation (March 2023)
• “Assembling a Shadow Cabinet” - The UK in a Changing Europe (April 2020)
• "I am most deeply hurt" – article with Matthew Bailey on the discovery of a letter relating to the death of Hugh Gaitskell - Mile End Institute (February 2018)
• History & Policy: The President's Speech - article on objections in 1982 to President Reagan's address to both Houses of Parliament (February 2017)