Explore the outcomes of post-war elections

What decides the outcome of elections? This intriguing question will be explored in a free lecture at the University of Teesside on Wednesday 12 November. Entitled ‘What decides elections?’ the lecture will be delivered by Teesside Honorary graduate Dr David Butler CBE from 6.30pm-8pm in the University’s Europa Building, Woodlands Road, Middlesbrough.

The lecture launches this year’s Honorary and Professorial Public Lecture series at the University, which end in June 2004. Future guest speakers include animation pioneer Ray Harryhausen and paralympic athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson, who are also both Honorary Graduates (please see attached complete programme).

Dr David Butler CBE was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University in 1999. He has written an analysis of every UK election since 1951 and is currently a Fellow at the University of Oxford. Dr Butler said: “The lecture will look at every UK election from 1945, and focus on climactic ones that resulted in changes of government, such as 1964, 1979 or 1997. The low turnout in 2001 will also be examined, which has very serious consequences for the public’s attitudes to elections.

“I’ll be knocking down a lot of other theories about election outcomes, with hard, stimulating analysis. However, I won’t just be looking at the UK, but also elections in Australia, India and the USA, which have very different electoral systems.”

Refreshments will be available from 6pm with an opportunity for audience questions at the end of the lecture.

For more details please contact Sarah Buckley, the University’s Alumni Officer on 01642 384255 or e-mail s.buckley@tees.ac.uk

The rest of this year’s lectures are as follows:

10 December-Professor John McDougall: Renewable Energy - The power to deliver?

28 January 2004-Ray Harryhausen: An animated career. This lecture by one of cinema’s animation pioneers is a prelude to this year’s Animex festival.

11 February 2004-Tanni-Grey Thompson: Fulfilling your potential.

3 March 2004-Professor Ted Fuller: Is entrepreneurship social foresight?

5 May 2004-Professor Ben Knights: Thinking of teachers: reflections on the brave new world of British higher education.

9 June 2004-Professor Peter Britton: Adding life to the years?

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