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Month: March 2009

Gord’s Obama boost – just two points

Gord’s Obama boost – just two points

CONSERVATIVES 42% (nc) LABOUR 30% (+2) LIB DEMS 19% (+1) But should Labour have expected more? Well we now have the first poll since Brown’s visit to Washington and the numbers are above. For the report on the Times website it is not possible to deduce the Lib Dem total but this will be inserted as soon as we get the number. UPDATE – [ConHome now have have this at 19%] As Peter Riddell’s report says these “…figures suggest that…

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Are the LDs misreading the public mood?

Are the LDs misreading the public mood?

Do they still hate the Tories more than Gordon? Just reading and watching what coverage there has been of the weekend’s Lib Dem conference it’s been hard to identify a discernible strategy for dealing with what could be the toughest general election for the party for thirty years. Maybe much more was said that didn’t make the public prints but what are we to make of comments like these quoted in the Times: “We remain a centre-left party” and “Many…

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How’ll Labour do without all-postal voting?

How’ll Labour do without all-postal voting?

Has the bar been set even higher for Gord? At the last Euro elections on June 10th 2004 the national polls shares (excluding NI) had Labour in second place on just 22.6% a full four points behind the Tories. UKIP beat the Lib Dems into the third place slot. These were the 2004 shares: CON 26.7: LAB 22.6: UKIP 16.1: LIBD 14.9: GRN 6.3 In spite of the performance, it should be said, Tony Blair led Labour to its third…

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Will Populus be as good as it gets for Gord?

Will Populus be as good as it gets for Gord?

What will be the size of the Barack boost? One of the consequences of the recession is that newspapers are looking closely at their polling budgets. The result is that we’ve seen far fewer non-scheduled surveys. Fortunately the regular monthly polls are so far unaffected and the next one due is Populus in the Times which hopefully will be out tomorrow night. In February the Tories were on 42 percent 14 ahead of Labour with the LDs on 18 percent….

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Libertas announces it launches Tuesday

Libertas announces it launches Tuesday

Two new parties in a single day… After their success in forcing a ‘No’ vote on the Lisbon Referendum in Ireland, Declan Ganley’s LIBERTAS party has just sent out a Press Release announcing that they will be running for the European Parliament in the UK, as well as in every other member state. This confirmation may come as a surprise to some, as UKIP had registered the party name and run a candidate in a by-election to prevent Libertas from…

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Is now the time for Independents?

Is now the time for Independents?

Morus comes off the fence It’s crucial for the integrity of PB.com that we are completely open about our allegiances and biases. Our Genial Host makes no secret of his Lib Dem membership, and I now need to be open about my allegiance. I have always been non-partisan, though never neutral, and still cannot bring myself to align with any of the political parties. For that reason, I’ve recently accepted a job helping run a new national campaign to support…

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How damaging will this be for Harriet?

How damaging will this be for Harriet?

Guardian Online Can her leadership ambitions survive the Euros? Both in terms of betting opportunities and political intrigue, the Labour leadership will be the “gift that keeps giving” for the next eighteen months and maybe more. Today’s instalment is the news that Harriet has been lined up to run Labour’s campaign for the June Euro-elections. Labour secured less than 23% at the 2004 elections, one of the worst scores for a governing party in Europe, and are in serious danger…

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“Four To Follow” for 2009 – Part 2

“Four To Follow” for 2009 – Part 2

Wikipedia International leaders to keep an eye on as the year unfolds 3. LK Advani (BJP, India) The US may claim to be the world’s greatest democracy, but India has no rivals as the world’s biggest. This massive country will hold the world’s longest general election this spring, with voting taking place from 16 April to 13 May – and in terms of leaders could also be the world’s oldest matchup, with current PM Manmohan Singh of Congress, 76, facing…

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