ELECTION guru Lynton Crosby has been named Australian of the Year in the UK at a gala dinner in London, only weeks after he controversially received a knighthood for his services to British politics. 
The annual Australia Day Foundation awarded the 59-year-old Australian the honour for what it said was providing world-leading campaign strategies, most recently masterminding the re-election of British Prime Minister David Cameron.
"Crosby is a world leader in his profession and has won and maintained the most intimidating and unquestioned reputation in British politics since he first became involved 10 years ago," Australia Day Foundation director Bill Muirhead told guests.
The honour, presented at the annual Qantas Australia Day Gala Dinner, has in the past been bestowed on Kylie Minogue, Barry Humphries, Clive James, billionaire businessman and Conservative Party patron Sir Michael Hintze and London terrorist attack survivor and noted peace activist Gill Hicks.
Sir Lynton attended the dinner and awards ceremony which featured entertainment by the Veronicas and dinner cooked by award-winning chef Neil Perry. He was unaware he was to be awarded the top gong until the start of the evening.
"I think for Australians coming to the UK to be able to have the opportunity to fit in and make a contribution is a really good thing," he said.
On his knighthood, Sir Lynton who asked all to call him just Lynton, said: "It was recognition for services to politics which is where I have been active in this country, but again it's really for others to make a judgment.
"I think the truth is that over the years, for many years, people who have made a contribution to the UK through politics or in other ways are recognised through these orders, and the same thing happened." In other awards at the Australia House dinner, English chef Rick Stein was awarded Honorary Australian of the Year in the UK for his strong promotion of Australia, its food and culture.Young Australian of the Year was awarded to Sydney-born double Grammy nominated saxophonist Amy Dickson.