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Simon Lee

Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Hull

Simon Lee lectures in political economy. He is responsible for the introduction of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in global political economy and globalisation and governance in the Department.

He has written two books on the ideas and policies of Gordon Brown: Boom and Bust: The Politics and Legacy of Gordon Brown (Oxford: Oneworld, 2009), which was a second and updated edition of Best for Britain? The Politics and Legacy of Gordon Brown (Oxford: Oneworld, 2007). His next single –authored monograph will be The State of England: The Nation We’re In (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011).

His most recent book is the first published study of the Cameron-Clegg Government. It is the fourth book co-edited with Dr Matt Beech, and produced by the Centre for Political Economy in partnership with the Centre for British Politics. The previous works were The Brown Government: A Policy Evaluation (London: Routledge, 2010), TheConservatives under David Cameron: Built to Last (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009), and Ten Years of New Labour (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008).

He has previous co-authored (with Andrew Cox and Joe Sanderson) The Political Economy of Modern Britain (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 1997), and also edited (with Stephen McBride) Neo-Liberalism, State Power and Global Governance (Dordrecht: Springer, 2007), and (with Maurice Mullard) The Politics of Social Policy in Europe (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 1997). He has contributed chapters to twenty other edited collections.

His articles have been published in New Political Economy, The Political Quarterly, Local Economy, Policy Studies, Public Policy and Administration, Policy and Society, and Public Money and Management.

He is currently working on Globalisation: A Beginner’s Guide (Oxford: Oneworld, 2011), and (with Richard Woodward)Understanding States and Markets: An Introduction to Political Economy (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012).

Boris Johnson has ended the age of austerity – but his party isn't on board

Oct 31, 2021 23:32 pm UTC| Politics

As the Conservative party wrestled with its future direction towards the end of the 1970s, Margaret Thatchers think tank, the Centre for Policy Studies, published a pamphlet of speeches by its co-founder, Keith...

Three reasons why Boris Johnson's promise to revitalise the north could come back to haunt him

Jan 18, 2020 12:06 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

For his forthcoming Budget on March 11, Chancellor Sajid Javid has promised to unleash Britains potential uniting our great country, opening a new chapter for our economy and ushering in a decade of renewal. This was on...

Theresa May requests short Brexit extension: how to understand this reckless move

Mar 21, 2019 13:14 pm UTC| Insights & Views

Before the October 1964 general election, Harold Wilson was reported to have stated a week is a long time in politics. Never has that maxim been truer than in relation to the politics of Brexit and the publication of...

Every election, politicians ignore England – here's why

May 05, 2017 14:45 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

In UK general elections, England matters. It accounts for 82% or 533 out of 650 constituencies in the national parliament. At the 2015 general election, 318 (or 96%) of the Conservatives 330 seats were won in England, as...

Plough on or change to win? Theresa Mays progressive dilemma

Jan 14, 2017 03:21 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Modern British history tells us that when a government minister becomes prime minister between elections, rather than by winning one, they confront a strategic political and ideological balancing act. They must...

Economy

China Exports Beat July Forecasts as AI Demand Fuels High-Tech Trade

Chinas exports posted stronger-than-expected growth in July, supported by booming global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure and a rush to ship goods before higher U.S. tariffs took effect. Exports increased...

US Dollar Gains as Iran Tensions, Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise

The U.S. dollar headed for a weekly gain against major currencies on Friday as uncertainty over an Iran peace agreement boosted demand for safe-haven assets, while rising Treasury yields and expectations of tighter Federal...

BOJ Rate Hike Expectations Rise Ahead of September Meeting

Bank of Japan policymakers are preparing a series of closely watched speeches ahead of the BOJs September 17-18 policy meeting, as expectations grow that the central bank will deliver another interest rate hike. BOJ board...

Asian Stocks Mixed as Chip Selloff Hits KOSPI, Nikkei Ahead of US Jobs Data

Asian stocks traded mixed on Friday as renewed weakness in semiconductor shares weighed on South Korean and Japanese markets, while investors awaited the closely watched U.S. July nonfarm payrolls report for fresh clues on...

China Trade Surplus Beats Forecasts in July as Exports Stay Strong

Chinas trade surplus exceeded market expectations in July as exports remained resilient, although faster import growth and softer export momentum pushed the surplus lower compared with the previous month. Official...

Politics

Bezalel Smotrich Faces Election Battle as Israel’s Far-Right Vote Fractures

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is facing a difficult political battle ahead of Israels October 27 election after his position on ultra-Orthodox military exemptions angered some of his traditional supporters in...

Trump Administration Weighs Executive Order on Vaccines and Autism Research

The Trump administration is considering an executive order focused on vaccines and autism research that could be announced as early as next week, Bloomberg News reported Friday, citing people familiar with the discussions....

New Zealand MMP Electoral System Faces Fresh Referendum Debate

New Zealands mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system is back in the spotlight after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was open to holding a referendum on how the country elects its parliament. The proposal...

Trump Faces Tough Choices as Iran War Drags On

U.S. President Donald Trump is facing increasingly difficult choices as the Iran war enters its sixth month, with diplomacy and the threat of renewed military action offering uncertain paths toward ending the conflict....

US Expands Social Media Vetting to Foreign Journalists Seeking Visas

The U.S. State Department is reportedly expanding social media vetting for visa applicants to include foreign journalists seeking permission to work in the United States, marking another expansion of the Trump...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Meta Ordered to Pay $567M Over Child Safety Violations in New Mexico

Meta Platforms Inc. has been ordered to pay $567 million into a fund designed to address harm to young people, in a major legal ruling involving child safety on Facebook and Instagram. Judge Bryan Biedscheid of New Mexicos...

Nintendo Shares Jump as Switch 2 Sales Boost Earnings

Nintendo shares surged nearly 5% on Friday after the Japanese gaming giant reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter earnings and upgraded its full-year financial outlook, supported by robust demand for the new Switch...

Cloudflare Stock Jumps 15% as Earnings Beat Estimates, 2026 Outlook Raised

Cloudflare shares surged in after-hours trading Thursday after the cloud connectivity and cybersecurity company delivered stronger-than-expected quarterly results, issued upbeat third-quarter guidance and raised its...

SoftBank Q1 Profit Beats Forecast as Intel Rally and OpenAI Investments Boost Returns

SoftBank Group (TYO: 9984) reported a stronger-than-expected fiscal first-quarter profit despite higher operating and financing costs, supported by massive investment gains from Intel and its Vision Fund portfolio. For the...

DeepSeek to Raise AI API Prices as Demand for New Models Surges

Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek has announced plans to significantly increase the pricing of its API services as demand for its latest AI models continues to grow. The company revealed the upcoming change...