Browsed by
Author: Editor

Local By-Election Preview : January 7th 2014

Local By-Election Preview : January 7th 2014

Swinton South on Salford (Lab Defence) Result of last election to council (2012): Lab 52, Con 8 (Labour overall majority of 44) Result of ward in last electoral cycle: 2010: Lab 1,671, Lib Dem 1,358, Con 1,055, Ind 837 2011: Lab 1,356, Con 553, Green 481, Lib Dem 277, UKIP 194 2012: Lab 1,072, Green 394, Con 376, BNP 172, Lib Dem 141, Eng Dems 112, Community Action 86 Candidates duly nominated: Neil Blower (Lab), Anne Broomhead (Con), Steve Cullen…

Read More Read More

The PB 2013 Prediction Competition Results

The PB 2013 Prediction Competition Results

How PBers got 2013 right and wrong Compared to the busy 2012, 2013 was a fairly quiet year, and not a great one for betting, as Our Genial Host has pointed out. There were just three UK by-elections, but of more significance was UKIP’s strong showing in the May locals. Abroad, Israel, Italy, Iran, Australia, and Germany were probably the most noteworthy elections. 2014 however looks set to be much livelier, with the Euros in May and the Scottish independence…

Read More Read More

And now… our inaugural New Year’s Day Crossword

And now… our inaugural New Year’s Day Crossword

pic.twitter.com/MuKOKDA0Cz — PolPics (@PolPics) January 1, 2014 It is with some considerable trepidation that I step into the estimable shoes of stjohn, who has provided us with splendid Christmas Day cruciverbalism for the last six years.  Fear not, stjohn is merely resting, and may well be setting more puzzles in future.  If this offering gets his famous “nod” then we may even collaborate on a jumbo sometime! Traditionally members have supplied the answers (and explanations of the wordplay) in the…

Read More Read More

Final tally of local by-election changes for 2013 sees the Tories as the main losers

Final tally of local by-election changes for 2013 sees the Tories as the main losers

Conservative GAINS From Labour: Leashowe and Moreton East (Wirral), Earls Barton (Wellingborough), Disraeli (Wycombe), Arbury (Nuneaton and Bedworth) From Liberal Democrat: Warden Hill (Cheltenham), Chase (Malvern Hills), Balsham (South Cambridgeshire), Sunbury East (Spelthorne), Greendown (Vale of the White Horse), Beverley (Kingston upon Thames), Maybury and Sheerwater (Woking), Comberton (South Cambridgeshire), Iver Village and Richings Park (South Buckinghamshire) From United Kingdom Independence Party: St. Mary’s (Worcestershire) From Independents: Sawton (South Cambridgeshire), Newby (Scarborough) From Others: Firthville from East Lindsey Independents (East…

Read More Read More

Local By-Election Results: December 19th 2013

Local By-Election Results: December 19th 2013

Harper Green on Bolton (Lab Defence) Result: Lab 744 (51% -22% on 2012), Con 325 (23% +6% on 2012), UKIP 252 (18%), Green 60 (4%), Lib Dem 53 (4% -6%) Labour HOLD with a majority of 419 (28%) on a swing of 14% from Labour to Conservative since 2012 Elm and Christchurch on Fenland (Con Defence) Result: Con 301 (44%), UKIP 234 (34%), Ind 73 (11%), Lab 51 (7%), Lib Dem 27 (4%) Conservative HOLD with a majority of 67…

Read More Read More

Local By-Election Preview: December 19th 2013

Local By-Election Preview: December 19th 2013

Harper Green on Bolton (Lab Defence) Result of last election (2012): Lab 41, Con 16, Lib Dem 3 (Labour overall majority of 22) Result in ward over last electoral cycle: 2010: Lab 2,302 (45%), Lib Dem 1,203 (23%), Con 903 (18%), Ind 625 (12%), Green 114 (2%) 2011: Lab 1,918 (67%), Con 616 (22%), Lib Dem 326 (11%) 2012: Lab 1,656 (73%), Con 389 (17%), Lib Dem 222 (10%) Candidates duly nominated: Asha Ali Ismail (Lab), Wendy Connor (Lib Dem),…

Read More Read More

Survation defends its methodology against Lord Ashcroft, John Rentoul and YouGov’s Anthony Wells

Survation defends its methodology against Lord Ashcroft, John Rentoul and YouGov’s Anthony Wells

Following publication of our latest four constituency polls for Alan Bown earlier this week, there has been considerable public discussion of the methodology we used for these polls, including specific criticisms from Anthony Wells of YouGov, Lord Ashcroft and an article by John Rentoul which lists a number of criticisms passed to him by “a Conservative source”. I would like to use this opportunity to address these criticisms and provide a robust explanation for our choices of methodology. In his…

Read More Read More

Local By-Election Results : December 12th 2013

Local By-Election Results : December 12th 2013

Topcliffe on Hambleton (Con Defence) Candidates duly nominated: Garry Key (Con) Result: Conservative HOLD elected unopposed Hornby Castle on Richmondshire (Con Defence) Result: Conservative 127 (46%), Independent 98 (36%), United Kingdom Independence Party 50 (18%) Conservative HOLD with a majority of 29 (10%) Iver Village and Richings Park (Lib Dem Defence) Result: Conservative 422 (47%), United Kingdom Independence Party 377 (42%), Liberal Democrats 101 (11%) Conservative GAIN from Liberal Democrats with a majority of 45 (5%) Bedworth West on Warwickshire…

Read More Read More