The objective of this project is to investigate what impact austerity has had on political participation in the UK. This research will involve interviews and some statistical analysis of spending cuts data. I will look at how the people’s experiences of public services vary and whether this affects how they engage with politics. The data collection consists of interviews with 43 members of the public from Salford, Sheffield, Hampshire, Harrow and Camden in England about their experiences of austerity and political participation.Doctoral Training Partnerships: a range of postgraduate training is funded by the Research Councils. For information on current funding routes, see the common terminology at www.rcuk.ac.uk/StudentshipTerminology. Training grants may be to one organisation or to a consortia of research organisations. This portal will show the lead organisation only.

Interviews with members of the public from four areas of a mixture of high and low deprivation and high and low local authority spending cuts. Participants were recruited through social media and local flyers.