Full Reviews for revolts.co.uk
Revolts is the first place I - and many journalists I respect - turn to for authoritative analysis, historical comparisons, and accurate predictions of parliamentary revolts and rebellions. This is academic political research doing exactly what it should do helping to inform the political debate - and in real time not years after it matters Nick Robinson, BBC Political Editor
The Revolts website is an invaluable aid to reporting the Commons. Revolts gives historical context, up-to-date predictions, quick vote analysis, all with the same reliability and elan. Nobody does it better! Where would we be without it? - Gary Gibbon, Channel 4 News
The revolts website is indispensable for political journalists. There is no alternative to the website for informing the public debate about Parliament and correcting the all too frequent myths and errors Peter Riddell, The Times
Revolts has become the invaluable one stop shop for analysis of parliamentary backbench turmoil. Phil Cowley's site has become the first port of call for the politeratti whenever turbulance strikes - Mark DArcy, Today in Parliament, Radio 4
Philip Cowley's work on backbench rebellions has become an indispensible reference point for anyone attempting an informed account of the Blair government's parliamentary difficulties. The journalist who writes about these matters without consulting his research is not serious and is not worth reading - Martin Kettle, Guardian
The Revolts website has been a life-saver for journalists who need up to date and - crucially - 100 per cent accurate information on MPs' voting records. With Labour rebellions threatening to strike at the heart of Tony Blair's "reform agenda", this is a crucial website for any political journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer, Sunday Express
Revolts has proved to be an invaluable resource for journalists and broadcasters. It not only provides accurate statistical information, but most importantly historical context. This kind of informed analysis does not exist anywhere else. Its availability to the media in turn ensures that the information is conveyed to the public, giving it a wider currency than usual for academic research - Shaun Ley, BBC Radio 4
Philip Cowley's timely, accurate assessments of the state of ferment inside the Labour Party have been invaluable to practising journalists working in the lobby. He has both made us reassess the story that this was a supine Parliamentary Labour Party, but also furnished us with detailed briefings as to the likely scale of a rebellion, and then within hours of the actual revolt, e-mailed us with a dispassionate review as who was involved, and how big the event turned out to be. He is one of the few academics that seems to understand there is a worthwhile interface with political journalism - Patrick Wintour, Guardian
Revolts has only been online for a short time, but it has already become one of the very few websites which are a must-read for political journalists. The authors' use of statistical analysis and their use of historical context enables one to cut through the 'spin' from by the major parties and their supporters, and to accurately assess political developments as they happen - David Mills, GMTV Sunday Programme
Whenever I hear someone confidently assert that "everybody knows" a vote is going to be close, I go to Revolts.co.uk for a reality check. The sheer weight of data on the site is invaluable and often reveals that the received wisdom isn't so wise - Robert Hutton, Bloomberg News
The Rebels website is a master stroke. Not only is it a priceless research tool for considered articles, it is also easy to navigate - essential for journalists up against deadlines Michael Lea, the Sun
Philip Cowley is an unrivalled source of knowledge and expertise about the Commons. I know no one in Britain who has a better grasp of the behaviour of backbench MPs and the habits of the parliamentary Labour party - Ros Taylor, Guardian
The kind of research that you do is not done by anyone else and it is vital to understanding the inner workings of parliamentary business, especially with a Government constantly nursing a majority vulnerable to a persistent but shifting core of rebels. As you know, I have referred to your work in my columns and there are other occasions when I should have done - John Rentoul, The Independent on Sunday
Not only is the Revolts website a invaluable place to cross check facts, it has proven to be a reliable source of stories for Newsnight Scotland. I'll continue to use it until the West Lothian question is answered Simon Willis, Newsnight Scotland
Philip Cowley's research -and his revolts website - has given our programme easy access to relevant information on parliamentary rebellions. It's a tribute to him that non-academics and indeed mere journalists find the wealth of information presented in an easily digestible, interesting and often witty form - Iain Watson, Today
Philip Cowley and Mark Stuart's work on Parliamentary revolts has become essential reading among the nation's lobby correspondents. Timely, incisive, authoritative and incredibly thorough, their briefing notes and website are the premier source for anyone interested in the nitty-gritty of Parliament's increasingly acrimonious relationship with this Government Simon McGee, Yorkshire Post
Unlike other academics, who publish months after the event, he puts high-quality analysis on his website in time for it to be of use to journalists working to day-to-day deadlines. I am convinced that he has single-handedly improved the quality of public debate about the workings of Parliament - Andrew Sparrow, ex-Daily Telegraph political correspondent 1998 - 2006 and author of Obscure Scribblers: A History of Parliamentary Journalism
As well as providing facts and figures on topical votes for busy and/or lazy political correspondents the work done by the Cowley team provides long-term perspective in that it has constantly corrected the frequently-made claim that New Labour's cohort of MPs since 1997 has been docile in the extreme. It is not true, though it helps Blair's critics on both left and right to assert that it is - Michael White, Guardian
It's been refreshing as a journalist to have access to academic research which is engaging, accessible and relevant as well as thorough and serious-minded - Leala Padmanabhan, BBC World Service
I and my colleagues frequently make use of this research and expertise, which is extremely useful in providing background rigour, historical context and challenges to popular myths. Political journalism on Parliamentary rebellion and backbench discipline would be noticeably weaker without the benefit of the facts and insights derived from this research Martin Rosenbaum, The Week in Westminster, Radio 4
Philip Cowley's research into Parliamentary rebellions have been featured numerous times in the last year on Guardian Unlimited either as written articles by Philip himself or as references in work written by Guardian journalists. His thorough and detailed knowledge of Parliamentary votes produce important insights into the parliamentary behaviour and tactics of both the government and its backbench MPs Oliver King, Guardian Unlimited
There is a vast amount of spin in British politics and a real shortage of hard data. That's what makes Philip Cowley's research so important. There's nowhere else we can go for this stuff - Reed Landberg, Bloomberg News
Philip Cowleys work and the revolts website are invaluable. Highly authoritative and immediately accessible. And a fount of informed wisdom that transcends the conventional. Truly, when I first encountered him and his immense store of pertinent and dependable information I recognised that here was a heartfelt prayer answered Peter Spencer, Sky News
Phil Cowley's work on Commons rebellions - and his very accessible website - is a fantastic resource. I use it very regularly - and I know plenty of other colleagues here who do too. It's great to see academics doing work that has immediate practical value in the inevitably more short-termist world of day to day political journalism Chris Mason, BBC Regional Unit
Time and again Philip Cowley has exposed myths and distortions about voting behaviour. This has helped to ensure our reporting of Parliament is accurate, and at a time when there is much concern about the standing of Parliament and interest in politics, the research has contributed to thought-provoking journalism which I believe our listeners have enjoyed - Terry Dignan, The Westminster Hour, BBC Radio 4
Philip Cowley's research is of particular help when reporting and putting into recent historical perspective late night votes in the House of Commons and in analysing the voting records of particular MPs, sometimes at very short notice and under pressure of tight deadlines - Greg Hurst, Political Correspondent, The Times
As political producer for BBC1's Breakfast I often found the revolts website an invaluable research tool, which gave me both detailed facts and incisisve analysis on the state of the Prime Minister's relationship with the Labour Party Ben Bevington, BBC Breakfast
The data and analysis on www.revolts.co.uk is an essential source for understanding why Labour backbencher have rebelled so often and predicting when they are likely to do so again John Prideaux, Economist
The Revolts website is an invaluable aid to reporting the Commons. Revolts gives historical context, up-to-date predictions, quick vote analysis, all with the same reliability and elan. Nobody does it better! Where would we be without it? - Gary Gibbon, Channel 4 News
The revolts website is indispensable for political journalists. There is no alternative to the website for informing the public debate about Parliament and correcting the all too frequent myths and errors Peter Riddell, The Times
Revolts has become the invaluable one stop shop for analysis of parliamentary backbench turmoil. Phil Cowley's site has become the first port of call for the politeratti whenever turbulance strikes - Mark DArcy, Today in Parliament, Radio 4
Philip Cowley's work on backbench rebellions has become an indispensible reference point for anyone attempting an informed account of the Blair government's parliamentary difficulties. The journalist who writes about these matters without consulting his research is not serious and is not worth reading - Martin Kettle, Guardian
The Revolts website has been a life-saver for journalists who need up to date and - crucially - 100 per cent accurate information on MPs' voting records. With Labour rebellions threatening to strike at the heart of Tony Blair's "reform agenda", this is a crucial website for any political journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer, Sunday Express
Revolts has proved to be an invaluable resource for journalists and broadcasters. It not only provides accurate statistical information, but most importantly historical context. This kind of informed analysis does not exist anywhere else. Its availability to the media in turn ensures that the information is conveyed to the public, giving it a wider currency than usual for academic research - Shaun Ley, BBC Radio 4
Philip Cowley's timely, accurate assessments of the state of ferment inside the Labour Party have been invaluable to practising journalists working in the lobby. He has both made us reassess the story that this was a supine Parliamentary Labour Party, but also furnished us with detailed briefings as to the likely scale of a rebellion, and then within hours of the actual revolt, e-mailed us with a dispassionate review as who was involved, and how big the event turned out to be. He is one of the few academics that seems to understand there is a worthwhile interface with political journalism - Patrick Wintour, Guardian
Revolts has only been online for a short time, but it has already become one of the very few websites which are a must-read for political journalists. The authors' use of statistical analysis and their use of historical context enables one to cut through the 'spin' from by the major parties and their supporters, and to accurately assess political developments as they happen - David Mills, GMTV Sunday Programme
Whenever I hear someone confidently assert that "everybody knows" a vote is going to be close, I go to Revolts.co.uk for a reality check. The sheer weight of data on the site is invaluable and often reveals that the received wisdom isn't so wise - Robert Hutton, Bloomberg News
The Rebels website is a master stroke. Not only is it a priceless research tool for considered articles, it is also easy to navigate - essential for journalists up against deadlines Michael Lea, the Sun
Philip Cowley is an unrivalled source of knowledge and expertise about the Commons. I know no one in Britain who has a better grasp of the behaviour of backbench MPs and the habits of the parliamentary Labour party - Ros Taylor, Guardian
The kind of research that you do is not done by anyone else and it is vital to understanding the inner workings of parliamentary business, especially with a Government constantly nursing a majority vulnerable to a persistent but shifting core of rebels. As you know, I have referred to your work in my columns and there are other occasions when I should have done - John Rentoul, The Independent on Sunday
Not only is the Revolts website a invaluable place to cross check facts, it has proven to be a reliable source of stories for Newsnight Scotland. I'll continue to use it until the West Lothian question is answered Simon Willis, Newsnight Scotland
Philip Cowley's research -and his revolts website - has given our programme easy access to relevant information on parliamentary rebellions. It's a tribute to him that non-academics and indeed mere journalists find the wealth of information presented in an easily digestible, interesting and often witty form - Iain Watson, Today
Philip Cowley and Mark Stuart's work on Parliamentary revolts has become essential reading among the nation's lobby correspondents. Timely, incisive, authoritative and incredibly thorough, their briefing notes and website are the premier source for anyone interested in the nitty-gritty of Parliament's increasingly acrimonious relationship with this Government Simon McGee, Yorkshire Post
Unlike other academics, who publish months after the event, he puts high-quality analysis on his website in time for it to be of use to journalists working to day-to-day deadlines. I am convinced that he has single-handedly improved the quality of public debate about the workings of Parliament - Andrew Sparrow, ex-Daily Telegraph political correspondent 1998 - 2006 and author of Obscure Scribblers: A History of Parliamentary Journalism
As well as providing facts and figures on topical votes for busy and/or lazy political correspondents the work done by the Cowley team provides long-term perspective in that it has constantly corrected the frequently-made claim that New Labour's cohort of MPs since 1997 has been docile in the extreme. It is not true, though it helps Blair's critics on both left and right to assert that it is - Michael White, Guardian
It's been refreshing as a journalist to have access to academic research which is engaging, accessible and relevant as well as thorough and serious-minded - Leala Padmanabhan, BBC World Service
I and my colleagues frequently make use of this research and expertise, which is extremely useful in providing background rigour, historical context and challenges to popular myths. Political journalism on Parliamentary rebellion and backbench discipline would be noticeably weaker without the benefit of the facts and insights derived from this research Martin Rosenbaum, The Week in Westminster, Radio 4
Philip Cowley's research into Parliamentary rebellions have been featured numerous times in the last year on Guardian Unlimited either as written articles by Philip himself or as references in work written by Guardian journalists. His thorough and detailed knowledge of Parliamentary votes produce important insights into the parliamentary behaviour and tactics of both the government and its backbench MPs Oliver King, Guardian Unlimited
There is a vast amount of spin in British politics and a real shortage of hard data. That's what makes Philip Cowley's research so important. There's nowhere else we can go for this stuff - Reed Landberg, Bloomberg News
Philip Cowleys work and the revolts website are invaluable. Highly authoritative and immediately accessible. And a fount of informed wisdom that transcends the conventional. Truly, when I first encountered him and his immense store of pertinent and dependable information I recognised that here was a heartfelt prayer answered Peter Spencer, Sky News
Phil Cowley's work on Commons rebellions - and his very accessible website - is a fantastic resource. I use it very regularly - and I know plenty of other colleagues here who do too. It's great to see academics doing work that has immediate practical value in the inevitably more short-termist world of day to day political journalism Chris Mason, BBC Regional Unit
Time and again Philip Cowley has exposed myths and distortions about voting behaviour. This has helped to ensure our reporting of Parliament is accurate, and at a time when there is much concern about the standing of Parliament and interest in politics, the research has contributed to thought-provoking journalism which I believe our listeners have enjoyed - Terry Dignan, The Westminster Hour, BBC Radio 4
Philip Cowley's research is of particular help when reporting and putting into recent historical perspective late night votes in the House of Commons and in analysing the voting records of particular MPs, sometimes at very short notice and under pressure of tight deadlines - Greg Hurst, Political Correspondent, The Times
As political producer for BBC1's Breakfast I often found the revolts website an invaluable research tool, which gave me both detailed facts and incisisve analysis on the state of the Prime Minister's relationship with the Labour Party Ben Bevington, BBC Breakfast
The data and analysis on www.revolts.co.uk is an essential source for understanding why Labour backbencher have rebelled so often and predicting when they are likely to do so again John Prideaux, Economist
