Dr Lewis Forsyth is a Tutor in the Division of Social and Public Policy within the School of Social and Political Sciences. In this role, Lewis teaches on a wide range of public policy courses across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. He recently completed a 4-year PhD (Urban Studies) on local government finance in Scotland, with a specific focus on Local Domestic Tax Policy and its evolution since the 1970s. This research explored the ongoing challenge of local tax reform, the complexities of intergovernmental fiscal relations, the institutional constraints on individuals, and their own agency in overcoming these forces.

Lewis has established a specialist theoretical and practical expertise in the design of national policy and its implementation locally, and his current tax research interests reflect this. He is particularly interested in intergovernmental relations, the role of commissions and consultations in shaping reform, and the political negotiation of complex trade-offs.

He is currently developing these research interests as an Academic Fellow with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). The project explores how Council Tax, a policy designed over three decades ago for the whole of Great Britain, aligns with a modern Scottish system and its guiding principles as set out in the Scottish Approach to Taxation (2021-2026).

• Local Government Finance
• Intergovernemntal Relations
• Institutionalism
• Scottish Public Policy and Finance
• Reform and the Policy Process
• Consultations and Commissions

Research groups

• Social & Urban Policy
• Just Cities & Societies

ESRC Impact Acceleration - £1400

Welcoming Master's students for supervision on any of the above topics, not currently accepting PhD candidates.

SPP 1A - Foundations of Welfare

SPP 1B - Understanding Glasgow

PUBPOL 4048 - Scotland's Policy Landscape

SPS 5013 - Understanding Health Policy