Political Studies Association Annual Lecture Offers Insight into UK 2024 General Election

The recent results from two by-elections in traditionally Tory constituencies that swung to Labour renewed global attention on the next United Kingdom general election scheduled for 2024 or the first month of 2025. What lessons do political science research offer us for interpreting the upcoming vote and the voters themselves?

Kate Dommett, professor of digital politics at the University of Sheffield, and Sir John Curtice, senior research fellow at the National Centre for Social Research and professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, plan to delve deep into that question at the upcoming Political Studies Association’s annual lecture. The online event starts at 4 p.m. UK time on Thursday, November 2.

In “Getting Under the Skin of General Election ‘24,” the two academics will examine the bleeding-edge of campaigning and contrast that with the traditional expectations of the vote. Dommett, for example, will reflect on how artificial intelligence and micro-targeting co-exist with the traditional “ground game” of retail politicking. Curtice, meanwhile, in a talk he’s calling “A Return to Normality? The 2024(?) General Election,” will discuss how he sees the public responding to the campaigning and the election.

Following their talks Sam Coates, Sky News’ political editor, will host an interactive question-and-answer session. Questions will be taken from the live audience, but for those who can’t attend or want their question seen in advance, this form allows early submission.

Lecturers

Sir John Curtice has written extensively about voting behavior in elections and referendums in the UK, as well as on British political and social attitudes more generally. A former co-director of the British Election Study, he has been a co-editor of NatCen’s annual British Social Attitudes reports series for nearly 30 years.  He is president of the British Polling Council.

Kate Dommett’s research focuses on digital campaigning, political advertising, data and democracy. Her first book, The Reimagined Party was published in 2020, and her latest book Data-Driven Campaigning in Political Parties: Five Advanced Democracies Compared, will published shortly. More details about her research and publications can be found at www.katedommett.com.