By Published On: September 23, 2026

Evidence on… Research Podcasts & UCL’s CeLSIUS Host First-Ever Live Podcast & Policy Brief Launch

Printed pages of the UCL CELSIUS 'Evidence on... National Identity in England' policy brief—edited and designed by Research Podcasts—showing ONS Longitudinal Study data charts on a bright purple background with the UCL branding
Evidence on... National identity in England policy brief from UCL and Research Podcasts

 

At Research Podcasts, we believe that academic research achieves its greatest impact when it creates a direct dialogue between researchers, policymakers, and key stakeholders. That is why we are thrilled to announce a major milestone for our team: we are hosting our very first live podcast recording!

In collaboration with CeLSIUS (Centre for Longitudinal Study Information & User Support) at University College London (UCL), we are hosting an interactive live event to launch the newest policy brief in their flagship series, Evidence on… National identity in England.

Chaired by Fran Abrams, this event exemplifies the core mission of both the Evidence on… series and the Linking Our Lives podcast: bringing researchers and key policy stakeholders into the same room to translate data into real-world action. The live debate will be recorded online and released as a special feature series for Linking Our Lives.

Register now for the live event

Event: Evidence on National Identity in England policy brief launch

Date: Thursday 3rd December 2026, 13:00-14:00

Location: Online via Teams

Chair: Fran Abrams (Research Podcasts)

Speakers: Ross Bond (School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh), Sunder Katwala (Director, British Future) and Stephen Jivraj (Director CeLSIUS at UCL and author of the brief).

What Does “Britishness” Mean Today?

The Evidence on… briefing series was created specifically to demonstrate how rich, longitudinal data from the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study (ONS LS) can directly inform public policy. By tracking over one million people across 50 years of social change, the ONS LS provides decision-makers with crucial evidence on long-term societal shifts.

This latest national identity policy brief explores identity in England – a theme at the heart of current UK policy discussions around social cohesion and integration, such as the government’s Protecting What Matters action plan.

Based on research by authors Momoko Nishikido, Stephen Jivraj, and Gemma Catney, the paper leverages linked census records across a decade to uncover key insights:

  • The apparent rise in British-only identity is most likely explained by the response order change between the two censuses: English-only was listed first in 2011, British-only first in 2021.

  • Minority ethnic groups almost universally identified with a British identity in 2021, with Bangladeshi and Pakistani groups showing the highest probabilities of reporting and transitioning to one.

  • Longer UK residency, English language proficiency, higher occupational class and religion – particularly Muslim and Jewish – were associated with higher odds of reporting and transitioning to a British identity.

Join the Dialogue

By joining us live, you won’t just listen to a presentation – you will participate in a live stakeholder forum. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions during the interactive Q&A, helping shape the debate before it is produced into a special feature series for Linking Our Lives.

Who should attend?

Policymakers, researchers, civil society leaders, social policy advocates, and anyone working at the intersection of integration, diversity, and social cohesion in modern Britain.

Behind the Scenes: Editorial & Brief Design Services

In addition to hosting the event and producing the Linking Our Lives podcast, Research Podcasts also edited and designed the Evidence on… policy brief in collaboration with the CeLSIUS team. Our team specialises in creating products that connect academic institutions with real-world decision-makers – whether that is translating complex data into clear, visually engaging policy briefs or designing interactive live launches and podcast series that bring key stakeholders together.

How We Can Help You

At Research Podcasts, we work with universities, research institutes, and charities to turn complex research into engaging audio and video content. From initial concept design and professional editing to launch strategy and team training, we offer end-to-end production support tailored to public engagement and impact agendas.

If you would like to explore how podcasting can bring your research to life and reach a wider audience, please get in touch with our team for an informal chat.