Catching up with PMQs, the most memorable exchange was The Prime Minister referring to Ed Balls as “A muttering idiot” It went down well with the Tory Backbenchers (as did Calm Down Dear) But is this something Cameron should avoid doing, will it enhance the Flashman meme? Link to the exchange here http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=W3YjCudUpIk TSE Note: Mike Smithson is on holiday until June 7th.
I suspect PMQs will feature the IMF report published yesterday, which will provide both sides with enough quotes to develop decent sound bites. TSE Note: Mike Smithson is on holiday until June 7th.
Welcome once again to PB’s overnight open thread in the relaxing atmosphere of the PB NightHawks cafe.
There have been several reports that Alastair Darling has identified Tony Blair to be the figurehead of the Unionist campaign in the upcoming referendum. Will the participation of the most electorally successful politician of his era, be a help or a hindrance? Over at CIF, this move is seen as Labour being in denial. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/21/tony-blair-scotland-union-labour Personally, I think Tony Blair remains one of the few politicians in the country, that can match Alex Salmond on the charisma and PR front….
Conservatives 36 (+3) Labour 41 (nc) LD 11 (-4) Others 12 (+1) Alarming for the the Lib Dems, they have hit a 15 year low with ICM. For David Cameron, the trend with the other pollsters is mirrored here, as his personal ratings have fallen, where he is now in a dead heat with Ed Miliband on the leadership ratings. The coalition retain their lead on the economic front, with some 44% prefer Cameron and chancellor George Osborne, as…
Welcome to PB’s holiday servicae I am now heading for a much needed to break in Spain and PB will not be operating a normal service. TSE has joined the guest editor team and will be looking after things. There will still be threads and TSE will be monitoring the polls. There will also be regular PB prediction polls like the one we had yesterday on Jeremy Hunt which, in as they used to say on Blue Peter, was prepared…
Should we find the reports a bit scary? There’s a new book out which reports that Dave is a frequent follower of “political betting websites” which he comes to for polling analysis. While PB is not mentioned specifically this is the only site that fits the bill. We already knew from the Kavanagh/Cowley book on the 2010 general election that this is one of his favourite sites and I have had it reported to me over the weekend from a…