Mike Smithson (politics)
Encyclopedia
Mike Smithson is a writer, a Liberal Democrat politician and expert on betting on politics who in 2004 founded the website politicalbetting.com
. Since January 2008 he has been the full-time editor of the site.
He joined the Liberal Democrats on their foundation, and stood for Parliament in North Bedfordshire at the 1992 General Election. He was twice elected as a County Councillor in Bedfordshire, and also as a Borough Councillor in Bedford.
Much of his early career was a BBC News journalist. Since 1994 he has worked as Director of Development running the fundraising for five UK universities - for the London School of Economics
from 1994 to 1996, for Cambridge University from 1996 to 1999, for Oxford University from 1999 to 2005, and for the University of York
from 2005 to April 2007. He also had a spell at Open University
. During his university fundraising career he has overseen approaches that have led to more than £550m being raised. This included the $100m gift by James Martin
to establish the James Martin 21st Century School at the University of Oxford
- the largest ever single alumni donation to a UK university.
He is a former fellow of Queens' College Cambridge and Magdalen College, Oxford
.
From 1977 to 1982 he represented the UK's radio and television journalists on the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Journalists
.
In 2007 his book The Political Punter - How to make money betting on politics was published by Harriman House.http://www.harriman-house.com/pages/book.htm?BookCode=131104
.
Politicalbetting.com
Politicalbetting.com is one of Britain's political blogs. Run by Mike Smithson, a former BBC journalist, Liberal Democrat councillor and general election candidate, the site began in March 2004....
. Since January 2008 he has been the full-time editor of the site.
He joined the Liberal Democrats on their foundation, and stood for Parliament in North Bedfordshire at the 1992 General Election. He was twice elected as a County Councillor in Bedfordshire, and also as a Borough Councillor in Bedford.
Much of his early career was a BBC News journalist. Since 1994 he has worked as Director of Development running the fundraising for five UK universities - for the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
from 1994 to 1996, for Cambridge University from 1996 to 1999, for Oxford University from 1999 to 2005, and for the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
from 2005 to April 2007. He also had a spell at Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
. During his university fundraising career he has overseen approaches that have led to more than £550m being raised. This included the $100m gift by James Martin
James Martin (author)
James Martin is a British Information Technology consultant and author, who was nominated for a Pulitzer prize for his book, The Wired Society: A Challenge for Tomorrow .- Biography :...
to establish the James Martin 21st Century School at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
- the largest ever single alumni donation to a UK university.
He is a former fellow of Queens' College Cambridge and Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
.
From 1977 to 1982 he represented the UK's radio and television journalists on the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Journalists
National Union of Journalists
The National Union of Journalists is a trade union for journalists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1907 and has 38,000 members. It is a member of the International Federation of Journalists .-Structure:...
.
In 2007 his book The Political Punter - How to make money betting on politics was published by Harriman House.http://www.harriman-house.com/pages/book.htm?BookCode=131104
Family
Mike's brother is the film and television producer John SmithsonJohn Smithson
John Smithson is a British film and television producer. He is Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Director of Darlow Smithson Productions. He works closely with top broadcasting commissioners in the UK, US and around the world.-Family:...
.