Rob Ford
Election Expert
The go-to guy for the Guardian, the BBC and many more, Professor Rob Ford is one of the UK’s highest profile political analysts. If your audience needs to understand the mood of the nation through the latest polling, the potential outcome of coming elections, or the hottest topics in political debate, Rob brings insight and authority in an entertaining style.
Biography
Rob Ford is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Manchester, working broadly in the areas of public opinion, electoral choice and party politics. He came to public attention through the popular books Sex Lies and the Ballot Box, and Brexitland, analysing how the British public is now divided on issues of immigration, identity and diversity.
Rob has 20 years of experience working with the BBC's election analysis team headed by Sir John Curtice, and has provided live analysis and commentary on every national, local and devolved election since 2004. In 2018 he was the joint recipient of the Royal Television Society Judges’ Award for the BBC/ITV/Sky Exit Poll team. He contributes frequently to a wide range of other media, including The Guardian.
Since then, Rob’s profile has grown exponentially, with frequent broadcast appearances, popular broadsheet opinion articles, and a large social media following. He is now in high demand from any group that wants to understand the direction of travel in British politics and the mood of the British public, whether they are in government, lobbying, business, finance, or the third sector.
Speaking
Rob brings unmatched political insight to any room, on stage or after dinner.
Writing
Rob’s writing on the state of politics pulls in audiences with deep polling insight.
Broadcast
Rob is an experienced on-air performer.
Topics
Rob is usually asked to speak about specific aspects of politics and polling, whether that is around current hot issues (such as immigration) or the prospects for a coming election. The amount of preparation time required (and hence the likely fee) will vary depending on whether the requested topic is a current close focus for research.
Publications
Rob edited three popular volumes of short essays for a general audience looking at voter behaviour and public opinion, Sex, Lies and the Ballot Box and More Sex, Lies and the Ballot Box, and Sex, Lies and Politics.
His first book, Revolt on the Right, examined the rise of the UK Independence Party and was named Political Book of the Year in 2015.
2020’s Brexitland (with Maria Sobolewska), explored some of the critical drivers that changed the UK’s political landscape, and was described by Sky News’ Adam Boulton as “Essential reading for those not wearing blinkers.”
Rob was co-author of The British General Election of 2019, the definitive account of one of the most consequential and controversial general elections in recent times.
What do you get when you book Rob to speak?
Rob is most commonly asked to keynote but he is happy to participate in panels and answer questions while he is at the event.
Rob is an experienced speaker with an audience of his own who is happy to work with you to help you promote your event.
This can include:
Pre-event video
Co-operation in pre-event PR and media interviews
Contributed articles for event blogs or programmes
Promotion on social media (~45,000 Twitter followers)
