Lords appoint new Committee on Political Polling and Digital Media
The House of Lords has today appointed a new Committee on Political Polling and Digital Media.
The Select Committee will be chaired by Lord Lipsey. Lord Lipsey is a former opinion polling adviser to Jim Callaghan as Prime Minister, co-chair of the All Party Statistics Group in Parliament and is a fellow of the British Academy of Social Science.
The Committee has been appointed to look into the ‘effects of political polling and digital media on politics' and will report by 31 March 2018. It expects to publish a call for evidence before the summer recess.
Among the questions it is expected to deliberate are:
- How did the polls perform in the 2017 General Election?
- To what extent do political opinion polls accurately reflect public sentiment?
- How do methodologies impact on accuracy?
- Is the industry's self-regulation fit for purpose?
- To what extent does political opinion on social media reflect the opinion of the general public more widely?
Commenting Lord Lipsey, Chairman of the Committee, said:
"For the second time in a row the polls have got an election wrong.
"We will conduct a rigorous and dispassionate inquiry into their methodology and conduct.
"In July we will be publishing our call for evidence which will set out the priorities for the inquiry and how interested parties can give us their views. We hope to hear from as many people as possible."
The Members of the Committee are:
