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Author: TSE

One in four support compulsory voting

One in four support compulsory voting

Electorally, I cannot think of anything more ghastly than being compelled to vote, any politician or party that proposes compulsory voting will not receive my vote. If such a policy did become law the primary consequence would be an increase in the number of ballot papers with phallus shaped drawings on them. TSE

Why the next election might not be a 1997 redux

Why the next election might not be a 1997 redux

I’ve been clear for a while that I’m not convinced a Labour majority is likely at the next election, simply because of the toxic legacy Jeremy Corbyn bequeathed Sir Keir Starmer and the electoral geography being poorer for Labour at the next election than in 1997. The other nagging doubt is about Sir Keir Starmer, longstanding readers of PB know that leader ratings that Ipsos produce are often a better predictors of general election outcomes than voting intention polls. Starmer…

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Has Sturgeon filleted Scottish Independence?

Has Sturgeon filleted Scottish Independence?

One of the inevitable fallouts out from Nicola Sturgeon’s surprise resignation is that the SNP special conference next month might get delayed, The Guardian are reporting that Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation could prompt a major rethink around her plans to fight the next UK general election as a de facto referendum on independence, the Scottish National party’s leader in Westminster has suggested. After the shock announcement of the first minister’s departure on Wednesday, Stephen Flynn said the special conference due to be held…

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Starmer speaks for the nation

Starmer speaks for the nation

Before Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation yesterday’s big news was Sir Keir Starmer banning two time general election loser Jeremy Corbyn as standing as an official Labour candidate at the next general election. I think this is a smart move by Starmer as evidenced by the polling above, it is supported by the people (Tories, Lib Dems, and Leavers) who needs to win over to become Prime Minister. It shows the country that the Labour Party under Starmer has made a clean…

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How many Prime Ministers until Christmas?

How many Prime Ministers until Christmas?

The Tory Party are determined to make AD 193 look like a year of strong and stable leadership. The Telegraph article seems to suggest Sunak could be ousted if the local elections are dire for the Tories and would lead to a rule change in when a vote of confidence can be triggered. I actually think the maximum risk for Sunak will be if the Privileges Committee inquiry into Boris Johnson and partygate recommends suspending Boris Johnson from the Commons…

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A transitory blip or long term damage for the Scottish secessionist movement?

A transitory blip or long term damage for the Scottish secessionist movement?

For those of us who take a keen interest in Scottish affairs this polling doesn’t come as a surprise. The toxic trans debate was likely to lead to suboptimal polling for Sturgeon, the SNP, and Scottish independence, particularly the specifics involving the Isla Bryson story. I have a hunch this is likely to be temporary blip for the SNP as I thought the Supreme Court’s intervention last year on Scottish independence would be a temporary blip for the Unionist movement…

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The Liz Truss comeback is on

The Liz Truss comeback is on

No, today isn’t April Fools’ Day, The Times have this revelation on Sunak’s travails This weekend [Liz] Truss will make her first public intervention since her premiership ended, with an opinion piece calling for tax cuts and supply-side reforms. Her allies say she stands by her prescription for growth but accepts that she tried to do too much as prime minister. “She thinks she lost the battle but this is a long game,” one ally said. Her supporters are mobilising, resurrecting the…

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