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Month: September 2013

The Lib Dems are in no mood to change their leader

The Lib Dems are in no mood to change their leader

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Nick Clegg appealing to delegates at LD conference to back him on economy pic.twitter.com/ILLwDLrkgE — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) September 16, 2013 Clegg looks safe until GE2015 If there was going to be a threat to Nick Clegg’s leadership at the annual conference in Glasgow it was going to come in this morning’s debate on economic strategy. There was a very strong move to oppose official policy but in the end the votes went with the leadership. It was an easy…

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On the day of the LDs crucial economy debate new polling puts more pressure on Clegg

On the day of the LDs crucial economy debate new polling puts more pressure on Clegg

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Unlike the red and blue teams the LD conference has a formal policy making function with the result, as we’ve seen in the past, that it can embarrass the leadership. This year’s event, here in Glasgow, has so far gone okay for Clegg with votes on energy policy and tuition fees taking a pragmatic line. This morning things might just be different as delegates discuss and vote on the central issue of economic strategy. With Cable and Clegg said to…

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Ashcroft mega-marginals poll has LAB doing better in the key battlegrounds than in country as a whole

Ashcroft mega-marginals poll has LAB doing better in the key battlegrounds than in country as a whole

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@LordAshcroft poll finds LAB doing better in key CON-LAB battlegrounds than country as whole. 8.5% swing as opposed to 6.5% one — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) September 15, 2013 CON lead in LD battlegrounds just 1% up since GE2015 @LordAshcroft poll One in 4 LAB supporters ready to switch to LDs in CON-LD battlegrounds when specific constituency question asked — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) September 15, 2013 The 12,500 sample poll was carried out by phone in early August at a time when…

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William Hill makes it 9-1 that GE2015 will lead to a second CON-LD coalition

William Hill makes it 9-1 that GE2015 will lead to a second CON-LD coalition

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At this price I’ve had a flutter – so should you With the party conference season opening today the bookies have got busy looking at existing markets and launching new ones. On LD seats we have:- William Hill open new market on LD seats at GE2015 4/1 0-20 seats 10/11 21-40 13/8 41 or more http://t.co/2F7WYoEVkx — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) September 14, 2013 Ladbrokes LD seats GE2015 odds 31-40 11/4 41-50 7/2 21-30 4/1 11-20 6/1 51-60 10/1 Over 71 12/1 0-10 14/1 61-70 20/1 — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB)…

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Has Clegg told Cameron when he’ll stand down?

Has Clegg told Cameron when he’ll stand down?

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Deep speculation from David Herdson Back in the days of the USSR, Western experts attempted to interpret what was going on in the Soviet hierarchy by watching for all sorts of indirect signs, from who sat or stood where at state and party events, to how people were referred to in Pravda.  It was an indirect and not particularly reliable art but you make the best use of what you have.  To which end, let’s go in for a little…

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The best polling news for the Lib Dems since the tuition fees fiasco of late 2010

The best polling news for the Lib Dems since the tuition fees fiasco of late 2010

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30% of LAB supporters tell Ipsos-MORI that they could vote LD A sign of tactical voting? pic.twitter.com/eYwnFBR7YN — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) September 13, 2013 The Ipsos-MORI guide to potential tactical voting One of the pieces of polling that’s come out today which has been a surprise is this from Ipsos-MORI. The question was delightfully simple and economical with words “If you had to vote for another party, which party, if any, would it be?” The summary results are above. For greater…

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2014 could see the end of the Lib Dems as a ‘national’ party

2014 could see the end of the Lib Dems as a ‘national’ party

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Henry G Manson on the start of conference season Lord Oakeshott’s interview in The House magazine will capture the headlines because of his claim Nick Clegg will cost the Liberal Democrats a large amount of seats. One thing he does point to is less contentious but almost as significant – May 2014 Oakeshott believes “this will be much the biggest test we’ve had on a nationwide basis of our support and our appeal since the general election, so that’s why…

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