Rob Drummond : Inaugural Lecture 23 September 2026 - AHEAD (Arts and Humanities Engagement and Dialogue)

5:00pm – 5:30pm Welcome & refreshments

5:30pm – 7:00pm Inaugural Lecture

In this inaugural lecture, Rob will explore the relationship between spoken language and identity through reflections and examples from his key projects over the years. From his work with the Polish community in Manchester, to young people excluded from mainstream school, to residents across Greater Manchester and, more recently, Members of Parliament, he has explored how the way we speak both reflects and shapes our identities, influences how others perceive us, and can lead to unfair judgements based on accent and voice.

Along the way, Rob will reflect on how he became Professor of Sociolinguistics, the experiences that have shaped his career, and why there are many different ways of being an academic.

The lecture will conclude with insights from the Manchester Voices project, celebrating the launch of Rob’s new book, which draws together years of research into the accents, dialects and identities of people across Greater Manchester.

About the Westminister Voices Project

Members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords are heard constantly — in debates, committees, media appearances and across public life. Yet we know surprisingly little about how accent and speaking style shape their professional experiences.

Politicians are often judged for how they speak, yet little research has explored how they experience and interpret this scrutiny. This project gives MPs and peers the opportunity to share their perspectives in their own words.

Westminster Voices is a research project carried out by Professor Rob Drummond and Dr Amanda Cole which explores how voice — both as speech and as democratic representation — shapes contemporary British political life.

The research commences in Summer 2026 – watch this space!