Join The Centre for the Study of British Politics and Public Life and Professor Deborah Mabbett for an In-Conversation with Claire Ainsley on her new book 'The New Working Class: how to win hearts, minds and votes’. Claire is the Executive Director of JFR (The Joseph Rowntree Foundation).

Claire is responsible for driving forward JRF’s strategy to inspire action to solve UK poverty. She is a former graduate of the university, and is a member of the advisory board of the Centre for the Study of British Politics and Public Life, and a former member of the executive committee of the Political Studies Association.

In the book, she argues that changes to Britain’s economy and society over the past forty years have created a new working class. She says that any political party that wants to win a parliamentary majority needs to understand and act on their concerns, and presents a new public attitudes-led model for policy-making.

Claire joined JRF in November 2013 as Director of Communications and External Affairs. She was appointed JRF Executive Director in December 2017. Prior to joining JRF in November 2013, Claire worked in public affairs and communications in the public and voluntary sectors, and for the UK's largest trade union.

Claire has a BA in Politics from the University of York and an MSc in Global Politics from the University of London. The book, ‘The New Working Class: how to win hearts, minds and votes’, was published in May 2018 by Policy Press and received national coverage in the mainstream and political media at its launch.