On a day like today it is perhaps worth recalling one of the worst polls ever for the Tories – this the January 1995 survey for the Daily Telegraph by Gallup. This poll did not use past vote weighting to ensure a politically balanced sample. Just four days after the fieldwork for Gallup was completed ICM began their January 1995 poll for the Guardian. When the past vote weighting adjustments were made this came up with CON 30: LAB 48:…
Will Labour MPs respond to the Guardian’s call for Brown to be challenged? This is the front page of the Guardian that will be screaming out across newstands throughout the UK this morning and it looks as though it has been designed deliberately to make it as damaging as possible for the Chancellor. For as any newspaper man or woman will tell you it is what appears “above the fold” that matters – and with the numbers 29-42 splashed there…
..and the pollster reports a 13% lead if it’s Cameron vs Brown A huge boost for David Cameron’s Tories is reported to be in tomorrow’s ICM poll for the Guardian. According to CONHome the figures are with changes on last month CON 40 (+3): LAB 31 (nc): LD 19% (-4). This is only the third time that ICM has recorded a 40% share or more for the Tories in a decade and a half and the nine point margin puts…
I’ve been trying to update a few things. Unfortunately, my meddling seems to have meant that Peter the Punter’s column is unavailable for comment! Hopefully everything else should be working fine, and normal service should soon be resumed. PLEASE USE THE LINK HERE FOR COMNMENTS ON PETER’S BRANDiNDEX PREDICTIONS
The Sun Shines on Johnson One highlight in another generally quiet week was the Sun’s support for Deputy Leadership candidate, Alan Johnson. Never underestimate the influence of the old currant bun. He’s this week’s best buy – 2 points at 83.3 The other best values are probably to be found amongst the ‘sells’. Look for those who are having a bit of a quiet time. Hilary Benn fits the bill, especially as he starts from a high perch; Tony Blair…
Who’ll win and who’ll lose from the new way of casting your ballot? In the continued effort to improve voter turnout the Government is staging a number of experiments with different voting methodologies for the May 3rd local elections. Among them is internet voting. These are the different tests involving the internet:- Rushmoor Borough – Remote internet voting the week before polling and on polling day Sheffield City – Remote internet and telephone voting the week before polling Shrewsbury and…
How can green agendas be pursued in the face of onslaughts like this? The News of the world is running a big feature today, part of which is reproduced here, launching a campaign on motoring taxation. This follows a week which has seen the Downing Street website petition on road pricing attract more than a million supporters and comes on the eve of a massive extension of London’s congestion charging zone. The question that all parties have to face is…
Meanwhile the Guardian continues its barrage against Brown The chart shows the changing betting exchange prices in the Labour leadership markets where for the the Environment Secretary, David Miliband, has now taken over as second favourite from the Home Secretary, John Reid. This is a big change and reflects, in part, the heavy media backing that seems to be gathering round, first, the idea of a proper challenge to Gordon and secondly for Miliband himself. The latter has, of course,…