Research
Research groups
Research interests
- The role, evolution, influence and significance of the Downing Street Chief-of-Staff (1997-present); and
- Leadership of directly-elected mayors
Current research
Max's research is focused on the environments that political leadership occurs within. This includes "environments" interpreted in an abstract sense. He is currently particularly interested in:
1. The role, evolution, influence and significance of the Downing Street Chief-of-Staff (1997-present); and
2. Leadership of directly-elected mayors.
Max takes comparative, biographical and contemporary history approaches to his research topics.
Journals
Stafford, M. W. (2025). The Downing Street Chief-of-Staff: A case study in political management. British Politics, 20(2), 184-202.
Sancino, A., M. W. Stafford, A. Braga and L. Budd (2021). What can city leaders do for climate change? Insights from the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group network. Regional Studies. DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2021.2005244.
(Winner of Policy Paper of the Year, 2021, Regional Studies)
Worthy, B., Bennister, M. and M. W. Stafford (2019). Rebels Leading London? The Mayoralties of Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson Compared. British Politics, 14(1), 23-43.
Stafford, M. W. (2014). Women鈥檚 political participation and their legislative representation. Alfred, 5(1), 50-57.
Books
Stafford, M. W. (2026). Strong Mayors' Leadership Capital: New York, London and Amsterdam (2000-2016). London: Bloomsbury.
Forthcoming:
Stafford, M. W. (2027). The Junction Box: The Downing Street Chief-of-Staff (1997-2022). London: Biteback.
Stafford, M. W. (2027). Managing the Prime Minister: The Downing Street Chief-of-Staff. London: Palgrave.
Chapters
Stafford, M. W., G. Blakeley, and T. Oliver (2025). 鈥榃hat and where are urban left mayors delivering in England?鈥 in O. Bratberg and N. Brandal (Eds.). Social democracy and urban politics: Party responses to the diversifying left in European cities. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Stafford, M. W. (2024). 鈥楾he UK Prime Minister鈥檚 Chief of Staff鈥檚 management of special advisers鈥, in J. Lees-Marshment (Ed.). Political Management in Practice: Lessons from Around the Globe. London: Routledge.
Forthcoming:
Stafford, M. W. (2026). 鈥楴umber 10 under Truss and Sunak鈥, in A. Crines & D. Jeffrey (Eds.). Failed Conservative Party Renewal After Johnson: the leaderships of Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Stafford, M. W. (2027). 鈥淛eremy Heywood鈥, in I. Dale (Ed.). Powerbrokers and Political Fixers: From Machiavelli to Mandelson. London: Biteback.
Conferences
I have given c.20 conference papers, including keynotes, on a range of topics related to my research interests (full listing on ORCID).
Book Reviews
I have published several book reviews for Party Politics and Political Studies Review (full listing on ORCID).