The University of the West of Scotland is opening its Paisley campus to the public for a free afternoon lecture on the US mid-term elections next month. Professor Murray Leith, Professor of Political Science at UWS, will give "Trump's Half Time Report: The Mid-Term US Congressional Elections 2026" on Wednesday 18 November, 3.45pm to 4.45pm. UWS is one of the organisations in the Our Advertisers slider on paisley.org.uk. We've previously covered the Paisley campus, its undergraduate open day and the postgraduate open evening, so this time we're looking at a talk anyone can book.


Where to find them


Address: University of the West of Scotland, Paisley Campus, High Street, Paisley PA1 2BE

Email: ask@uws.ac.uk

Main website: https://www.uws.ac.uk/


What the lecture covers


According to the UWS event page, Professor Leith will look at the results of November's US mid-term congressional elections and what they could mean for the remaining two years of Donald Trump's presidency. The talk is set to cover:


  • how changes to the balance of power in Congress could affect the administration's ability to deliver its priorities
  • debates around the use of presidential powers and Congress's role in scrutinising government decisions
  • the wider implications for US democracy, international relations and the rest of the world


In the event description, Professor Leith says the second Trump administration has seen increasingly authoritarian and undemocratic actions, including the use of Executive Orders and challenges to the rule of law at home and abroad, supported by a Republican-run Congress, and that the mid-terms "may well see changes".


About the speaker


UWS says Professor Leith has lectured at universities in Scotland and the United States and has been based at UWS since 2007. His work covers Scottish, UK and US politics and society, and he has published on Scottish and UK politics, nationalism, national identity, diaspora, belonging, migration and veterans. He is regularly invited to comment on US politics in the media, including BBC Radio Scotland and STV.


How to book


The lecture takes place at UWS Paisley campus on High Street. The Eventbrite listing shows tickets as free. Places are booked through that listing, which is linked from the UWS event page.


Also on at the Paisley campus


For anyone thinking about applying, the Undergraduate Subject Showcase at the Paisley campus runs on Saturday 21 November, 11am to 2.30pm, with hands-on activities and the chance to talk to academics and current students in subjects including Business, Computing, Criminology & Psychology, Engineering, English Language, Law, Nursing, Science, Social Care & Social Work and Social Sciences. UWS notes that the UCAS application deadline is 13 January 2027. Visitor parking is via the Lady Lane entrance, and Paisley Gilmour Street station is about a ten-minute walk away.


Event details can change, so please check the UWS event pages or the main website before you travel.


UWS appears in the Our Advertisers slider on the paisley.org.uk homepage.


Sources