News - Reports
CIPR GAG Annual General Meeting 2008
Date: 22 April 2008
Venue: Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 1 Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London, SW1H 9JJ
Speaker: Sir Robert Worcester KBE DL of Ipsos-MORI
21th CIPR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS GROUP ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
TUESDAY 22 APRIL 2008
7.00 pm - Guest Speaker, Sir Robert Worcester, IPSOS MORI
The group heard a fascinating presentation from Sir Robert Worcester, Chairman of Ipsos-MORI (see below for short biography of Sir Robert).
Sir Robert, one of the most respected and best known pollsters in the world today, set out a short history of polling, through the 1980’s to the present day. He discussed how political parties, leaders and policies need to appeal to the swing voter in marginal constituencies, for them to have a chance of general election success. He addressed the Government’s current difficulties, suggesting that as a result a general election would be 2 years away, and the likely outcome of the London Mayoral election (Livingstone to win). He also predicted a Democrat primary win for Barack Obama who would go on to win the Presidential election.
The presentation was followed by a lively Q&A and generous thanks to Sir Robert for his fascinating presentation.
7.45 pm – Formal Proceedings of the AGM
The business session of the AGM included a debate around a proposal put forward by the committee, for a consultation on proposals to create new levels of membership of GAG, within CIPR.
The outgoing Chairman, Robert Khan, proposed the consultation period, as the best way of canvassing as wide a range of GAG members’ views as possible. He outlined what the Committee thought were the pros and cons of the CIPR proposals.
Lis Lewis-Jones, President of the CIPR, outlined the reasons for the proposals, and the benefits of full membership.
From the floor several members supported the consultation, although concerns were expressed about the CIPR proposals, including questions as to the necessity of the plans.
The AGM agreed to have a six month consultation period, followed by an emergency general meeting (EGM) to vote on the proposals.
The meeting then considered nominations for the Committee, including the officer positions. These were unanimously approved (see list below). Keith Johnston was elected as Chairman.
The annual accounts were approved.
Robert Khan, outgoing Chairman recorded his thanks to the Committee for their work and support.
From the floor, Doug Smith, Founder Chairman of GAG, warmly thanked Robert for his two years of service as Chairman, which the whole group concurred had been an excellent tenure.
The Group also recorded its thanks to Louisa Collyer-Hamlyn, the outgoing Hon. Secretary, for her considerable achievements in her years on the Committee. We wished her well on the impending birth of her first child.
At the end of the meeting the group adjourned for refreshments.
New committee
Chairman - Keith Johnston
Vice Chairmen - Elizabeth Brogan, Jonathan French
Hon Secretary - Daniel Murphy
Hon Treasurer - Deborah Powton
Membership Secretary - George Crozier
Executive Committee - Robert Khan, Iain Anderson, Laura Webb, Steve Bates, Nicky Edwards
Click here for more information on the new committee
Biography: Sir Robert Worcester, KBE DL
Sir Robert Worcester is the Founder of MORI (Market & Opinion Research International), London, and now an International Director of Ipsos Group, Paris. He is a Past-President of the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR). He was awarded the IPR President’s Gold Medal in 1994.
Sir Robert is Chancellor of the University of Kent and a Visiting Professor of Government and a Governor of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is Honorary Professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent and in the Department of Politics and International Studies at Warwick University.
He is on Advisory Boards of the Institute of Business Ethics (IBE), Media Standards Trust (MST) and the Camelot Corporate Responsibility Advisory Board.