University of Liverpool Department of Politics
Professor Jon Tonge Professor of Politics

Public engagement§ 04

Media and public engagement

I have broadcast on politics for more than three decades, and have acted as a studio expert for the BBC during coverage of local and general elections since 2000. Most of that work is election analysis, Northern Ireland politics, and the workings of parties and parliaments.

Record § 04.1

Scale of broadcast work

Across three decades of broadcasting, on international, national and regional output.

  • 5,000+

    Television appearances

    International, national and regional output.

  • 3,000+

    Radio broadcasts

    BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, the BBC World Service, and BBC and independent local radio.

  • Since 2000

    BBC election studio expert

    Local and general election coverage.

A representative selection from three decades of broadcasting and writing.

Sample § 04.2

Sample of media appearances, January-September 2026

This is a sample rather than a complete record. Professor Tonge made hundreds of media appearances during the period; the linked entries and additional appearances below illustrate the range of that work.

  • BBC News Channel, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Politics North West, BBC North West Tonight and ARD Germany - coverage of the Gorton and Denton and Makerfield by-elections, and Andy Burnham's replacement of Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, various dates.
  • BBC News, ‘Who is Andy Burnham?’ - profile piece (BBC iPlayer).
  • BBC Radio 4, ‘Gordon Brown says a United Ireland is inevitable’.
  • Al Jazeera, Inside Story, ‘Andy Burnham replaces Keir Starmer?’
  • TRT World, Turkey.
  • BBC Radio Ulster - Good Morning Ulster, Nolan and Talkback, various topics.
  • CBC.

§ 04.3

Television

5 linked examples

Studio appearances, televised debate and current-affairs panels, from Northern Ireland's weekly politics programme to international news channels.

§ 04.4

Radio

9 linked examples

Studio contributions to national, regional and Irish news and current-affairs programmes. Most are election analysis, Northern Ireland politics, or the working of parties and parliaments.

§ 04.5

Podcasts

1 linked examples

Documentary and discussion podcasts, including series produced by news organisations and learned societies.

§ 04.6

Written commentary

2 linked examples

Articles written under his own name for newspapers, magazines and research-policy outlets.

§ 04.7

Quoted as an expert

35 linked examples

News reporting and analysis in which he is quoted on the record. Every entry links to the outlet's own page.

§ 04.8

Public events, findings and interviews

1 linked examples

Public lectures and debates, releases of survey findings, and long-form interviews about his work.

Outlets § 04.9

Where the work has appeared

A representative selection from three decades of broadcasting and writing.

UK television

  • BBC Ten O’Clock News
  • ITN News
  • Newsnight
  • BBC One Sunday Politics
  • BBC Breakfast

International television

  • ABC (Australia)
  • CBC (Canada)
  • Al Jazeera
  • France 24

Radio

  • BBC Radio 4
  • BBC Radio 5 Live
  • BBC World Service
  • BBC and independent local radio

Newspapers

  • The New York Times
  • The Times
  • The Washington Post
  • Los Angeles Times
  • San Francisco Examiner
  • Financial Times
  • The Independent
  • The Guardian

Writing § 04.10

Commissioned briefings and magazine analysis

All other publications

Shorter analytical pieces written for a general and policy readership, mostly in Political Insight, the Political Studies Association magazine, and in briefings commissioned by parliamentary bodies.

2026

A Border Poll in Northern Ireland: Still on the Table?

Political Insight, September, 24–26

Other output

2017

The Impact and Consequences of Brexit for Northern Ireland

European Parliament briefing paper, PE 583.116

Other output

2011

Studying Politics at University

Politics Review, 21.2, October

Other output

Enquiries § 04.11

For journalists and producers

  • Available for comment on Northern Ireland politics and institutions, UK elections and political parties, party membership and voting behaviour, and voting age reform.
  • Survey findings from the ESRC Northern Ireland General Election studies can be discussed on the record; specific figures are best requested in advance so the right survey year is used.
  • The quickest route is email to the University address on the contact page; the departmental telephone reaches the Department of Politics office.
Email J.Tonge@liverpool.ac.uk Contact details and CV