Connor Naismith
BSocSc in Sociology (2014)
Connor is a Member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich. He graduated from Manchester with a BSocSc in Sociology in 2014. Here, he talks about what he does now and how he got there following his time at Manchester
My current role and how I got there
I was elected as the Member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich in 2024, before that I served as a local councillor in my community.
After leaving the University of Manchester I went on to work for the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which later became the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), performing roles in investigation support, policy and in oversight of police handling complaints.
I didn’t always know that I wanted to pursue the career I have. I definitely used the time at university, and even after I graduated, to refine my view of what I wanted to do in my career. I knew I wanted to do something in public service, but I never would have guessed where I would have ended up when I began my study.
My experience at Manchester
I originally chose to study at Manchester as I was attracted to the prestige of the University, which had a strong track record of producing quality research and teaching. I also loved the idea of being able to study in a city as vibrant as Manchester.
Sociology gave me a strong theoretical underpinning of the world around me. It also gave me the tools to think about society in a deeper way. It taught me to think critically about everything.
These skills help me to think about the problems and choices facing me as a Member of Parliament, and the issues facing my constituents.
The most surprising takeaway from my course was the wide variety of people that you meet at university.
My advice for future students
My advice would be to throw yourself into every aspect of university life. Join societies that interest you. Take modules outside your comfort zone or that you find interesting but know little about. Use the time and space to expand your horizons and meet new people.