doctoral researcher, University of Cambridge | Public and Social Policy Specialist
Tallulah Eyres is a PhD candidate in Sociology at the University of Cambridge, funded by an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Widening Participation Studentship. As one of the first recipients of this award, she embodies the low horizons and high aspirations of individuals from underrepresented and socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Born and raised on a council estate in Salford, Greater Manchester, one of the most deprived areas in England, Tallulah attended a secondary school identified as needing improvement by Ofsted. Her journey mirrors Pierre Bourdieu’s “miraculous” ascent into academia, reconciling the worlds of a working-class Salfordian and a first-generation academic navigating elite institutions. This dual perspective fuels her commitment to amplifying voices often marginalised in academic, political, and policy discourse.
Her doctoral research, “Devolution and Localism in England: The Promise and Pitfalls for Democracy”, examines devolution’s potential to address regional inequalities and confront democratic decline. She argues that devolution must go beyond administrative restructuring to actively enable citizens to engage in decisions that shape their lives. By intersecting with issues of place, identity, and belonging, devolution can foster political agency and dignity.
Tallulah holds an MPhil in Sociology from Cambridge and a First-Class BSc in Sociology from the London School of Economics. She has published research on “Labour Heartlands in Brexit Britain” in the New Sociological Perspectives peer-reviewed journal and was previously nominated as a ‘Future Leader’ by the Common Vision think tank.
Beyond academia, Tallulah brings policy expertise and political acumen from roles with an MP, a global body, an international charity, and think tanks. She has influenced policymakers through research and advocacy, developing evidence-based solutions to complex socio-economic challenges.