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Mile End Institute

About Us

Lord Peter Hennessy

The Mile End Institute sustains Queen Mary’s fine tradition of involvement in public and political life at a time of fascinating, if not perilous, uncertainty for our country.
Lord Peter Hennessy

The Mile End Institute is Queen Mary, University of London's primary centre for the study and public discussions of the major challenges facing British politics, policymaking, and public life. Established in 2015 under the patronage of Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield, it has hosted hundreds of public events, produced research papers and policy briefings, and hosted dozens of Visiting and Honorary Research Fellows. Directed by Professors Michael Kenny, Philip Cowley, Tim Bale, Dr Robert Saunders, and now Professor Patrick Diamond, the Mile End Institute has enhanced Queen Mary's reputation as one of the UK's leading universities for the study of British politics. 

Alongside our regular events programme, held at Queen Mary's campus in Mile End, the Institute has hosted high-profile lectures to commemorate the life and work of Queen Mary's very own Professor John Ramsden and the scholarship of our patron. As part of Queen Mary's ambition to be an 'anchor institution' in East London, the Institute also works with local communities and policymakers to tackle the key political and policy questions facing the East End and the East of England as a whole. In addition to our Polling London project which regularly surveys public opinion in the Capital, we regularly undertake research with the Centre for London and the University's Lifelong Health Team, and co-convene the East London Research Network. 

The Mile End Institute is run by a small core team, led by Professor Patrick Diamond (Director), Tom Chidwick (Manager) and Audrey Tan (Policy Partnerships Manager), and is supported by a substantial network of Visiting and Honorary Research Fellows and Professors

For more information about our work and research interests, you can read MEI Strategy 2023-2028 [PDF 8,973KB].

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