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Month: March 2012

As LAB moves to 44pc with YouGov and approval hits a new low…

As LAB moves to 44pc with YouGov and approval hits a new low…

Is this Cameron/Osborne’s worst crisis yet? The overnight YouGov poll reported for the second day running a 10 point LAB lead which followed the ComRes telephone survey on Monday night which also had a lead of that size. The YouGov shares were: CON 34%: LAB 44%: LD 10% Govt approval: Approve 25% Disapprove 61% This comes just eight days after Osborne’s budget with the lower of tax rates for the super–rich juxtaposed with a move, not properly explained, to reduce…

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The #fuelstrike: Was Dave encouraging panic buying?

The #fuelstrike: Was Dave encouraging panic buying?

Should the PM have been more guarded? The comments by David Cameron on motorists filling their tanks up have been sharply criticised by the petrol retailers because, they say, it is encouraging panic buying. Are they right or was the PM correct in advising people to take sensible precautions? As we saw in September 2000 a panic can soon be set off and that of itself can add to the shortages shortages. @MikeSmithsonOGH

How well will George do on Thursday?

How well will George do on Thursday?

Could he give Miliband/Labour a bloody nose? When the Bradford West by-election was called at the start of the month it looked a pretty standard LAB hold on an increased majority but with a reduced turnout. The voting at the general election was: LAB 45.3%: CON 31.15: LD 11.7% Then came news that George Galloway was entering the race in an attempt to get back into parliament. He opened in the betting at 33/1 but now has tightened to 10/1….

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Could dinner-gate be turning Tory donors off?

Could dinner-gate be turning Tory donors off?

Tories trying to downplay fall-out from Cruddas. But donors are putting their chequebooks away; the “hedgehog approach”, as one put it — Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) March 27, 2012 The FT’s Beth Rigby makes an interesting point and it would only be natural, I suppose, if the affair caused some of the donors to think twice about making a gift to the blue team. Did the person they were speaking to have the authority to make promises? In any case giving…

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Who will come out best in London’s other elections?

Who will come out best in London’s other elections?

Wikimedia Commons Sean Fear asks if this is a big chance for LAB? The London Mayoral contest rightly commands the lion’s share of public attention. There is, however, another set of elections, due to take place on May 3rd, for the London Assembly. The Assembly is a fairly toothless body, but it does offer a high profile to its members, some of whom, such as Bob Blackman, Angie Bray, Meg Hillier, and Bob Neil, have made their way into Parliament….

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Does scandal impact on voting more than the economy?

Does scandal impact on voting more than the economy?

What has “dinner-gate” done to CON majority hopes? There is a theory shared by a number of political scientists that scandals like the current one over Number 10 dinners for Tory donors are much more damaging in the eyes of voters than things like the economy. The Major government came to an end in May 1997 because it looked tired and, more importantly, sleazy. One scandal after another had undermined the party in the eyes of the public. They couldn’t…

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