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ABOUT EMMA BURNELL

Emma is a campaigns and public policy professional with nearly two decades of experience who is also a talented and highly sought after writer and commentator. She is widely published and has a proven history of developing and implementing communication strategies, campaigns, profile raising, stakeholder relationships and speech writing.

Political Human consultancy

The Political Human is a full service political communications consultancy with a difference. Our work is not based on politics, but on people. We find the people who are at the heart of your cause and ensure they give your campaigns heart. 

 
 

latest work

 
 
PODCAST
House of Comments: Political Interviews and Holding the Powerful to Account
House of Comments: Political Interviews and Holding the Powerful to Account

This week we have a chat about a great summer read - "Why is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me?" by Rob Burley. Emma Burnell sits down with the author to discuss his impressive career in political television and why long-form political interviews matter so much. This topic is likely to become even more relevant as we head into a General Election campaign.

As well as the book and Burley's career, they also discuss the responsibilities the public has for improving the public discourse and whether politicians should tell jokes... *shudder*

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Featured
Eurovision voting has nothing to do with Brexit - get over it.

There is nothing those who spend far too much time thinking and tweeting about politics like more than a chance to look like they’re engaging in a national cultural event (one everyone else might also be talking about). The word “hinterland” is flashing like a neon sign in our hindbrains. A chance to look normal – this is all we ask.

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Featured articles

Emma Burnell has written for a range of publications including The Guardian, Independent, New Statesman and the Times. She has appeared on the BBC, Sky News, Channel 4 News and numerous radio programmes. 

Journalism
Rishi Sunak has reignighted the Tories' class problem
Rishi Sunak has reignighted the Tories' class problem


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Idon’t know what Rishi Sunak’s wife looks like. I don’t know who her favourite band is or which football team she supports. Nor do I care and nor is it my business. If journalists or comedians were making bad jokes about Sunak’s family, that would allow him a perfect right to be as indignant about it as he likes. He’s public property – she isn’t.

But that’s not what’s happening when Sunak is being asked questions about his wife’s business with Russian companies. In this case, a senior law-maker is being asked about his close ties to those dealing with Russian businesses as his government decides on and imposes sanctions on that country.

Ukraine has shown Britain what progressive patriotism could look like
Ukraine has shown Britain what progressive patriotism could look like

The situation in Ukraine – and the response of its people from Zelensky downwards – has shown that a positive narrative of national identity is perfectly possible. Neither does it have to be denied to achieve a sense of international solidarity or national change and development.

Now is the perfect time for progressive people in the UK to ask how we too could adopt this narrative of national solidarity to build a better future.

WHAT THEATRE OWES REAL-LIFE POLITICS


In the final article in her guest editor series, Emma Burnell examines the relationship between theatre and real-life politics, speaking to industry figures such as James Graham, and a number of other critics and playwrights.

Emma Burnell is a Journalist, Political Consultant and Playwright. Her first play, No Cure for Love can be seen here.

“A playwright has to have a really good story. The politics should fit around it… I don’t want ever to feel like I am being hammered around the head with a message.”

These are the words of culture politics journalist Nicole Lambert and they have stuck with me as I have thought about this series of blogs exploring the ways in which politics and the performing arts interact – be that through comedy, a particular playwright or in its effect on an audience. There is so much scope for persuasion and even activation through theatre - but where does that leave the people who are seeing themselves depicted on stage?

Tories won't oust Boris Johnson until they decide who they are

There has been much talk of whether or not Boris Johnson will remain Tory leader and prime minister in 2022. It won’t have been much of a jolly Christmas for him as speculation about his future continued not just in SW1 but well beyond.

Unhappy MPs will be returning from their breaks this week having had an earful from constituents about the parade of scandals that hit the government from the October fuel crisis onwards and the sense of a government both out of control and out of touch.