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Tonght’s Local By-Election Preview by Harry Hayfield

Tonght’s Local By-Election Preview by Harry Hayfield

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Two local by-elections tonight. Preview on PB by Harry Hayfield bit.ly/ZLv8qb twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/st… — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) April 11, 2013 Lascelles on Darlington (Lab Defence) Last Local Election Result (2011): Lab 34, Con 14, Lib Dem 5 (Labour majority of 15) Result of last election (2011): Lab 1,143 (80%), Con 277 (20%) Candidates duly nominated: Lewis Cairns (Con), Helen Crumbie (Lab), Howard Jones (Lib Dem) Darlington (the constituency that Labour won in a by-election just prior to the 1983 general election, only…

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Tonight’s local By-Election Preview : April 10th 2013 (t-22 days until Counties 2013)

Tonight’s local By-Election Preview : April 10th 2013 (t-22 days until Counties 2013)

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Wigmore on Luton (Lib Dem Defence) to be held on April 10th 2013 Last Local Election Result (2011): Lab 36, Lib Dem 8, Con 4 (Labour majority of 24) Result of last election (2011): Lib Dem 1,239, 1402, 1113 (average: 1,252 (41%) Lab 786, 734, 781 (average: 767 (25%) Con 787, 807, 559 (average: 718(23%) UKIP 324 from one candidate (11%) Candidates duly nominated: John Magill (Ind), Lance Richardson (UKIP), Marc Scheimann (Green), Alan Skepelhorn (Lib Dem), James Taylor (Lab), John Young (Con)…

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Harry Hayfield’s PB local elections special

Harry Hayfield’s PB local elections special

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Humberston and New Waltham on North East Lincolnshire (Con Defence) Last Local Election (2012): Lab 25, Con 12, Lib Dem 4, UKIP 1 (Labour majority of eight) Results of last electoral cycle in ward (2010 – 2012) Party 2010 Votes 2010 Share 2011 Votes 2011 Share 2012 Votes 2012 Share Con 2,317 39% 1,327 38% 1,231 44% Lab 1,138 19% 756 22% 596 21% Lib Dem 1,852 31% 136 4%     Ind 183 3% 616 18%     UKIP…

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David Miliband’s departure leaves Blairites leaderless

David Miliband’s departure leaves Blairites leaderless

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Henry G Manson on the significance of today’s announcement It’s been said that New Labour was more of sect than a movement. Now shorn of a leader the moderate faction has no-one else to turn to. David Miliband’s defeat in the 2010 leadership election showed that New Labor could not easily endure beyond Blair. Instead David Miliband allowed himself to be presented as a continuity candidate when many in the movement and country wanted more of a change and break…

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Yes he Khan – Sadiq’s a great 33-1 bet for London Mayor

Yes he Khan – Sadiq’s a great 33-1 bet for London Mayor

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Sadiq Khan – Labour’s shadow minister for London twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/st… — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) March 22, 2013 Henry G Manson on Labour’s possible 2016 London Mayoral candidate The Labour Party has wisely learned from the previous London selection and is not racing to select a Labour mayoral candidate soon after the defeat. However the next two years will be a great chance for aspiring candidates to jockey for position and give themselves the best chance of success. Labour is currently 8/11…

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Rod Crosby on “A POPE FOR OUR TIME?”

Rod Crosby on “A POPE FOR OUR TIME?”

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What’s the best betting on the Papal Election? Italian Angelo Scola is the betting favourite as the Cardinals go into the first round of the Papal election twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/st… — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) March 12, 2013 Electorate: 115 Total Europe: 60 (Italians: 28) Total “Developing World”: 40 USA: 11 Canada: 3 Oceania: 1 Winning-post: 77 For the ninth occasion in the past 100 years, all eyes turn to a makeshift chimney installed above one of the most beautiful buildings in the…

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Nick Palmer wonders whether “Compassionate Conservatism” can ever win

Nick Palmer wonders whether “Compassionate Conservatism” can ever win

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Strorm clouds over Westminster via @edwarddocx twitter.com/EdwardDocx/sta… — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) March 3, 2013 The fundamentals that the by-election raises The outcome in the early hours of Friday morning prompts a reflection which should cause some discomfort across most of the political spectrum. Is it actually a feasible project for what Cameron has called “compassionate Conservatism” to win a majority? To discuss this, we don’t need to get into the debate whether Cameron is sincere or merely posing to attract…

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Next weekend’s Italian Election by Andrea Parma

Next weekend’s Italian Election by Andrea Parma

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Can Silvio prevent a left majority? Italy is set to hold parliamentary elections on February 24-25th. In 2008 Silvio Berlusconi comfortably won, leading the centre-left coalition of Walter Veltroni by around 9%. As is often the case on the Italian political scene, his government couldn’t finish its 5 year term and Mario Monti took over as a “technocrat” PM in late 2011. 47 lists or coalitions of lists are contesting this election but just five coalitions are likely to poll…

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