John Curtice wins award for general election work

A leading pollster has won an award for predicting the outcome of the general election.

John Curtice. Picture: Robert Perry

Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde’s School of Government and Public Policy, received the Political Studies Communicator award at the Political Studies Association’s (PSA) annual ceremony in London.

Prof Curtice is president of the British Polling Council and has led the team of electoral experts who produce the exit poll on general election nights in the UK for 23 years. His accurate polling of May’s election left former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown and ex-Labour communications chief Alastair Campbell red faced after they stated they would eat their hat and kilt, respectively, if the poll was right.

The PSA panellists who picked Prof Curtice said: “He was chosen for his important positive contribution to the study of elections and public opinion and the skill with which he communicates his insights to the public through regular media appearances. In particular, the judges complimented his work on the exit poll for this year’s election for its accuracy and high quality.”