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Month: June 2012

Is Number 10 getting too heavy with the Lords reform rebels?

Is Number 10 getting too heavy with the Lords reform rebels?

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Will opposing really be “an interesting career” move? In what sounds a rather sinister move a Number 10 spokesman has said that those Tory MPs who rebel on the Lords reform proposal will be making “an interesting career move”. That sounds a bit Mafiosi. The problem about being fierce is that it could be counter-productive – though with a possible ministerial re-shuffle in the offing aspiring ministers might not be too keen on upsetting the boss. Clearly Cameron is totally…

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On the 5th Anniversary of Blair’s exit from No. 10……

On the 5th Anniversary of Blair’s exit from No. 10……

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Would Labour still be in power if they’d stuck with Tony? Exactly five years ago today, June 27th 2007, was a pivotal point in British politics. It was the moment when the triple general election winner Tony Blair stood down and when Gordon Brown took over after Labour MPs had given him the job without a contest. Blair, of course, was one of only three leaders in Labour’s entire history to lead the party to overall majorities The clip featured…

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Should George have held firm on the duty increase?

Should George have held firm on the duty increase?

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Why allow a victory for the Sun and Ed Balls? Given the pressure that’s been rising this afternoon’s announcement by the chancellor not to go ahead with the fuel duty increase is not that great a surprise. Labour had a been upping the ante and the newspaper that apparently calls the shots in Downing Street, the Sun, had been campaigning hard including a special piece from Ed Balls After all so much from his March budget has subsequently been amended…

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June Guardian ICM poll

June Guardian ICM poll

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Labour maintains its 5% lead from last month.   Conservatives 34% (-2%) Labour 39% (-2%) Lib Dems 14% (+3%)   The Lib Dems will be very relieved to move away from their fifteen year low with ICM that they achieved last month. Before the adjustment for those who refused to say who they will vote for, the Labour lead would be 10%, which is in line with other pollsters,  but as the Guardian notes Past experience has demonstrated that this…

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Can the SNP and Greens work together in the pro-independence campaign?

Can the SNP and Greens work together in the pro-independence campaign?

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James Kelly on the pro-independence campaign If there is to be a Yes vote in the Scottish independence referendum, a prerequisite is surely that the Yes campaign itself is as broadly-based as possible, and extends well beyond the SNP’s ranks. The potential is certainly there – the Scottish Green Party is supportive of independence, and its charismatic leader Patrick Harvie attended the Yes launch, where he was accorded virtual parity with Alex Salmond. The Scottish Socialist Party will also be…

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The June ICM poll is out – but no VI figures yet

The June ICM poll is out – but no VI figures yet

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We are going to have to wait The monthly telephone poll by ICM for the Guardian is out this evening but so far the paper has not reported the voting intention figures. It’s putting emphasis on views of global warming which it notes have hardly changed since ICM posed a near-identical question just ahead of the Copenhagen climate conference of 2009. 57% accept that man made global warning is happening. In May the firm had the Tories in their best…

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Will protecting oldies’ perks stop the seepage to UKIP?

Will protecting oldies’ perks stop the seepage to UKIP?

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Is this why seniors are being favoured over the young? If the polls are to be believed the age segment which has shifted most to UKIP in recent months has been the oldies. Most days the News International survey by YouGov shows them supporting Farage’s party more than any other sector of the electorate – a trend that’s seen from just about all the pollsters. The oldies are the group which seems to have turned most against Dave in the…

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Why the SNP is playing down the consequences of YES

Why the SNP is playing down the consequences of YES

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How changing the question added 16 points to NO’s lead There’s new polling out from TNS-BMRB into the form of wording for the Scottish Independence referendum due to take place in October 2014. The firm effectively carried out four separate polls of Scottish voters putting different wording to each. The SNP’s proposed question received the highest level of agreement with independence: Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country? Yes 40% No 60% Exchanging the word ‘agree’ for…

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