School of Social and Political Science

Background

Stewart Duncan is a PhD student within the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh. His research examines how political institutions condition trade unions’ engagement with the policy process and the circumstances under which their strategies gain traction. Centring on a single case study, the project compares the institutional constraints of Westminster and Holyrood to ask whether differing political arrangements shape what trade unions do, or who they are?

Stewart is undertaking his studies alongside his work as a Researcher and Policy Officer in the Scottish Parliament, working with the Scottish Labour Party on education and skills policy. He previously worked in the UK rail industry and has been active in the trade union movement for several years, including as a member of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), and as a member of the Scottish Trades Union Congress Young Workers Committee (2023–26) and General Council (2025–26).

Current Work

PhD Social Policy, University of Edinburgh (2025-present)
Do Political Institutions Shape what trade unions do—or who they are? A comparative study of trade union engagement across parliamentary systems

Supervision by Dr Daniel Clegg and Dr Richard Freeman

Previous Qualifications

MSc Public Policy, University of Edinburgh (2024-25)
Dissertation: The Glacier Moves Because the Molecules Do: A study of how policy is enacted in the Scottish Parliament

LLB (Hons) Law with First Class Honours, Edinburgh Napier University (2020-24) 
Dissertation: Judicial Review: Evaluating its effectiveness as a key link in the United Kingdom’s constitutional ‘chain of accountability’.

Professional Experience

Research and Policy Officer Scottish Parliament (2025-present)
Researching education and skills policy for Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP (Scottish Labour). Preparing committee briefings and speeches, drafting legislative amendments, and working with schools, colleges, universities, trade unions and other education stakeholders.

Legislative work in this session includes: Scottish Languages (Scotland) Act; Education (Scotland) Act; Tertiary Education & Training (Funding and Governance) Bill; Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill; Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill; Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill; Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill; and also Housing (Scotland) Bill and Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

Tutor University of Edinburgh (2025-present)
Part time tutor for Understanding Public Policy (SCPL08012) a 20-credit, Semester-1 undergraduate course that introduces first and second year students to the core theories and concepts used in the study of public policy.