Google search data 'could predict election results'

Economists say methodology that helped forecast Scottish referendum result could be used to predict general elections

Economists in Glasgow believe they can predict future election results using Google search data after they accurately forecast the vote in last year's Scottish independence referendum.

Analysing live data on Google searches for the name Alex Salmond combined with commercial polling figures allowed the researchers to predict the yes vote would hit 45% - five days before that actual result in the referendum on 18 September.