# Contrarian Prize

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The **Contrarian Prize** is a prize which has been awarded either annually or biennially since its establishment in 2013.[1] The prize promotes the contribution of non-conformist thinking to the British public debate by recognising individuals who have demonstrated independence, courage, and sacrifice through the ideas they have introduced, or stands they have taken.

Nominations for the prize are submitted through an online form by the public each year, with the shortlist and winner selected by a panel of judges. The judging panel is chaired by [Ali Miraj](/source/Ali_Miraj), who founded the prize, with other judges including economist [Vicky Pryce](/source/Vicky_Pryce), businessman and winner of the inaugural prize [Michael Woodford](/source/Michael_Woodford_(executive)), journalist [Izabella Kaminska](/source/Izabella_Kaminska), and politician [Gawain Towler](/source/Gawain_Towler).

## The prize: "The Three Politicians"

"The Three Politicians" was originally created in 2007[2] by Italian [pop art](/source/Pop_art) sculptor, [Maruro Perucchetti](/source/Maruro_Perucchetti), and donated by him in recognition of the inaugural prize awarded in March 2013.

The pigmented [urethane resin](/source/Resin_casting) sculpture illustrates the "three politicians" in the form of the [three wise monkeys](/source/Three_wise_monkeys) – one who does not see, one who does not speak, and one who does not hear.

## List of shortlisted candidates and prize winners

### 2013 Contrarian Prize

The shortlist for the inaugural prize was announced in February 2013,[3] and the prize was presented by [Isabel Oakeshott](/source/Isabel_Oakeshott) on 18 March 2013.[4][5]

- **Michael Woodford** – winner
- [Giles Fraser](/source/Giles_Fraser)
- [Nigel Farage](/source/Nigel_Farage)
- [Heather Brooke](/source/Heather_Brooke)
- [Peter Tatchell](/source/Peter_Tatchell)

### 2014 Contrarian Prize

The 2014 prize was awarded on 2 April 2014.[6][7]

- **[Clive Stafford Smith](/source/Clive_Stafford_Smith)** – winner
- [Benjamin Zephaniah](/source/Benjamin_Zephaniah)
- [Brian Cathcart](/source/Brian_Cathcart)
- [Douglas Carswell](/source/Douglas_Carswell)
- [Kay Sheldon](/source/Kay_Sheldon)
- [Peter Oborne](/source/Peter_Oborne)

Presented by: [Will Hutton](/source/Will_Hutton)

### 2015 Contrarian Prize

The shortlist for the 2015 prize was announced in June 2015,[8] and the prize was presented by [Jonathan Dimbleby](/source/Jonathan_Dimbleby) on 18 June 2015.[9][10][11]

- **[Simon Danczuk](/source/Simon_Danczuk)** – winner
- [Craig Murray](/source/Craig_Murray)
- [Ed Husain](/source/Ed_Husain)
- [George Galloway](/source/George_Galloway)
- [Nevres Kemal](/source/Nevres_Kemal)

### 2017 Contrarian Prize

The 2017 prize was presented by [Sir Simon Jenkins](/source/Simon_Jenkins) on 16 May 2017.[12]

- **[Patrick Minford](/source/Patrick_Minford)** – winner
- [Gisela Stuart](/source/Gisela_Stuart)
- [Narindar Saroop](/source/Narindar_Saroop)
- [Faith Spear](/source/Faith_Spear)
- Nigel Farage

### 2019 Contrarian Prize

The shortlist for the 2019 prize was announced in June 2019,[13] and the prize was presented by [Jeremy Paxman](/source/Jeremy_Paxman) on 25 June 2019.[14][15]

- **[Katharine Birbalsingh](/source/Katharine_Birbalsingh)** – winner
- [Theresa May](/source/Theresa_May)
- [Douglas Murray](/source/Douglas_Murray_(author))
- [David Goodhart](/source/David_Goodhart)
- [Helen Pluckrose](/source/Helen_Pluckrose)

### 2021 Contrarian Prize

The shortlist for the 2021 prize was announced in October 2021,[16] and the prize was presented by [Michael Crick](/source/Michael_Crick) on 11 November 2021.[17]

- **[Toby Young](/source/Toby_Young)** – winner
- [Suzanne Moore](/source/Suzanne_Moore)[18]
- [Will Knowland](/source/Will_Knowland)
- [Sunetra Gupta](/source/Sunetra_Gupta)

### 2024 Contrarian Prize

The shortlist for the 2024 prize was announced on 7 October 2024 recognising five [whistleblowers](/source/Whistleblowing).[19][20] The prize was presented by [Adam Boulton](/source/Adam_Boulton) on 23 October 2024.

- [**Maggie Oliver**](/source/Margaret_Oliver) – winner
- Elizabeth Nicholl[21]
- [David Neal](/source/David_Neal_(British_Army_officer))
- Stephen Cresswell[22]
- David Bell[23]

## Lectures

Following the prize-giving ceremony, an event is held in conjunction with [Cass Business School](/source/The_Business_School_(formerly_Cass)) typically in the form of a lecture or discussion featuring the winner of that year's prize.

Date Speaker(s) Title 20 November 2013 Michael Woodford How do we achieve a more moral capitalism?[24] 19 November 2014 Clive Stafford Smith The long path to injustice[25] 2 December 2015 Simon Danczuk MP Hiding in plain sight: how child sexual abusers get away with it[26] 30 November 2016 Panel debate: Claire Fox (chair), Ed Husain, Izabella Kaminska, Giesla Stuart, Peter Tatchell, Simon Wessely Contrarianism in an age of conformity[27][28] 5 December 2018 Professor Patrick Minford Brexit and beyond[29][30] 25 November 2020 Katharine Birbalsingh CBE Against the grain: how a brave headteacher spearheaded an educational revolution 19 October 2022 Panel debate: Claire Fox (chair), Michael Crick, Sunetra Gupta, André Spicer, Peter Tatchell Is it becoming impossible to be a contrarian?[31] 1 November 2023 Toby Young Freedom of Speech and Censorship: Examining the Tensions Between Open Discourse and Harmful Content[32]

## See also

- [Mais Lecture](/source/Mais_Lecture)
- [The Business School (formerly Cass)](/source/The_Business_School_(formerly_Cass))

## External links

- [The Contrarian Prize](http://www.contrarianprize.com) - official website

## References

1. ["Introducing: The Contrarian Prize"](https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/introducing-contrarian-prize-8143031.html). *The Independent*. 2012-09-16. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["The Three Politicians, 2007"](https://mauroperucchetti.com/artworks/categories/6/9468-the-three-politicians-2007/). *Mauro Perucchetti*. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["The time has come, but who will be the inaugural winner of the Contrarian Prize?"](https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/time-has-come-who-will-be-inaugural-winner-contrarian-prize-8505116.html). *The Independent*. 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["And the first Contrarian of the Year award goes to..."](http://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/and-the-first-contrarian-of-the-year-award-goes-to-8541059.html). *Evening Standard*. 2013-03-19. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["Olympus whistleblower wins inaugural Contrarian Prize"](https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/latest/photo-news/olympus-whistleblower-wins-inaugural-contrarian-prize-10201). *Amateur Photographer*. 2013-03-19. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["The fine art of being contrarian gets its night out in Mayfair"](https://www.cityam.com/fine-art-being-contrarian-gets-its-night-out-mayfair/). *CityAM*. 2014-04-02. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. Griffith, Gabriella (2014-04-03). ["The fine art of being contrarian gets its night out in Mayfair"](https://news.yahoo.com/news/fine-art-being-contrarian-gets-night-mayfair-002425849.html). *news.yahoo.com*. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["Ali Miraj: Meet the short list for this year's Contrarian Prize"](https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2015/06/ali-miraj-meet-the-short-list-for-this-years-contrarian-prize.html). *Conservative Home*. June 2015. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["Simon Danczuk wins Contrarian Prize"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160331144313/http://rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/96441/simon-danczuk-wins-contrarian-prize). *www.rochdaleonline.co.uk*. Archived from [the original](https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/96441/simon-danczuk-wins-contrarian-prize) on March 31, 2016. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. Agnew, Harriet (2015-06-19). ["Simon Danczuk: Courage rewarded"](https://www.ft.com/content/64602a18-15ac-11e5-be54-00144feabdc0). *www.ft.com*. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["MUFG straight in at the charity football championships"](https://www.cityam.com/mitsubishi-ufj-straight-charity-football-championships/). *CityAM*. 2015-06-18. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["Brexit Bulletin: Why May's Manifesto Matters"](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-17/brexit-bulletin-why-theresa-may-s-election-manifesto-matters). *Bloomberg.com*. 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["The importance of being a Contrarian"](https://www.thearticle.com/the-importance-of-being-a-contrarian). *TheArticle*. 2019-06-11. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. Jenkins, Patrick (2019-06-28). ["Katharine Birbalsingh: Quite Contrary"](https://www.ft.com/content/adb86478-98ca-11e9-8cfb-30c211dcd229). *www.ft.com*. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. Dudley Edwards, Ruth (2019-07-01). ["Ruth Dudley Edwards: Isn't it about time we paid tribute to the contrarians among us who won't be cowed?"](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ruth-dudley-edwards/ruth-dudley-edwards-isnt-it-about-time-we-paid-tribute-to-the-contrarians-among-us-who-wont-be-cowed-38267561.html). *Belfast Telegraph*. [ISSN 0307-1235](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0307-1235). Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["From Eton and Oxford to 'The Guardian': the 2021 Contrarian Prize shortlist"](https://www.thearticle.com/from-eton-and-oxford-to-the-guardian-the-2021-contrarian-prize-shortlist). *The Article*. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2023.

1. Young, Toby (20 November 2021). ["The day I became a prize contrarian"](https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-day-i-became-a-prize-contrarian/). *The Spectator*. Retrieved 7 June 2023.

1. Moore, Suzanne (12 November 2021). ["On not winning a prize I did not want"](https://suzannemoore.substack.com/p/on-not-winning-a-prize-i-did-not). *Letters from Suzanne*. Retrieved 7 June 2023.

1. ["Five whistleblowers: the 2024 Contrarian Prize shortlist"](https://www.thearticle.com/five-whistleblowers-the-2024-contrarian-prize-shortlist). *TheArticle*. 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2025-04-01.

1. ["We've Been Shortlisted for The Contrarian Award!"](https://www.themaggieoliverfoundation.com/latest-news/we-ve-been-shortlisted-for-the-contrarian-award). *The Maggie Oliver Foundation*. Retrieved 2025-04-01.

1. ["Documents show 'beyond doubt' former head of RAF 'lied' over recruitment scandal, MP claims"](https://news.sky.com/story/documents-show-beyond-doubt-former-head-of-raf-lied-over-recruitment-scandal-mp-claims-13234598). *Sky News*. Retrieved 2025-04-01.

1. Calvert, Jonathan (2023-10-28). ["HS2 whistleblower: I don't want a career helping 'fraudsters'"](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/hs2-whistleblower-i-dont-want-a-career-helping-fraudsters-wg9qsmp30). *www.thetimes.com*. Retrieved 2025-04-01.

1. ["Tavistock whistleblower 'had no alternative' but to raise concerns"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/nhs-england-england-liverpool-great-ormond-street-hospital-b2524683.html). *The Independent*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250106204658/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/nhs-england-england-liverpool-great-ormond-street-hospital-b2524683.html) 2025-01-06 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-04-01.

1. ["Whistleblowing should be 'easier'"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-25014637). *BBC News*. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. Cass Business School (2014-11-20). ["Cass Business School: The Contrarian Prize Debate 2014"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkKK6afZc5c). *YouTube*. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. Cass Business School (2015-12-07). ["Simon Danczuk, MP: The Contrarian Prize Lecture 2015 at Cass"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSwF8FkzS00). *YouTube*. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. Cass Business School (2016-12-16). ["The Contrarian Prize Debate 2016: Contrarianism in the Age of Conformity"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBxDUuFMrHs). *YouTube*. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["Censorship, offence and freedom of speech - has conformity curtailed debate? | Cass Business School"](https://www.cass.city.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2016/december/the-contrarian-prize-2016-debate). *www.cass.city.ac.uk*. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. ["The Contrarian Prize: Brexit and Beyond"](https://www.city.ac.uk/news/2018/december/the-contrarian-prize-brexit-and-beyond). *City, University of London*. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. Minford, Patrick (2017-05-17). ["Being a contrarian is tough, but on Brexit – as on Thatcherism – I'm sure I'm right"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/17/contrarian-tough-brexit-thatcherism-sure-right/). *The Telegraph*. [ISSN 0307-1235](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0307-1235). Retrieved 2020-11-25.

1. Armstrong, Hamish (26 October 2022). ["Is it becoming impossible to be a contrarian? Bayes hosts debate around freedom of speech."](https://www.bayes.city.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2022/october/is-it-becoming-impossible-to-be-contrarian). *Bayes Business School*. Retrieved 7 June 2023.

1. ["Contrarian Prize Lecture - Freedom of Speech and Censorship: Examining the Tensions Between Open Discourse and Harmful Content | City St George's, University of London"](https://www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/2023/november/freedom-of-speech-and-censorship-examining-the-tensions-between-open-discourse-and-harmful-content). *Contrarian Prize Lecture - Freedom of Speech and Censorship: Examining the Tensions Between Open Discourse and Harmful Content*. 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2025-04-01.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Contrarian Prize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrarian_Prize) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrarian_Prize?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.