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So what did PBers think will happen in 2013?

So what did PBers think will happen in 2013?

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PB 2013 competition predictions now out (and apols for delay!) (Firstly, apologies to all for the delay in getting these predictions released – I’ve been absolutely flat out at work with year-end and pretty exhausted, so thanks for your patience!) The pundits taking part in PB’s annual crystal ball-gazing exercise, looked at everything from UK leaders at Christmas and the local elections, to key international elections, and predictions for the opinion polls from ICM, with the questions now featuring UKIP…

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Henry G Manson on the argument over the TV debates

Henry G Manson on the argument over the TV debates

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Does Cameron fear Farage? David Cameron has argued that UKIP should effectively be excluded from televised leaders’ debates at the next election. His defence is “the TV debates should be about, you know, the parties that are going to form the government, in my view.” He really will have to do better than this. The Prime Minister gives the impression of defending a cosy cartel of parties (aided by first past the post) that is conspiring against the public. Worst…

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General Elections from 1950-2010

General Elections from 1950-2010

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Sixty years of general elections. Chart showing the big trends from 1950-2010. twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/st… — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 11, 2013 @samiraahmeduk The data came from British Electoral Facts by Rallings & Thrasher. The chart was prepared by Politicalbetting’s Tomas Forsey — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 11, 2013 The big trend chart from Corporeal

Could YOU be the Political Forecaster of 2013?

Could YOU be the Political Forecaster of 2013?

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Test your skill in this year’s PB Prediction Competition “Never underestimate the determination of a quiet man” said Iain Duncan Smith shortly before his defenestration as Conservative leader. But after 2012, what will the quieter year of 2013 hold? How will UKIP perform in the opinion polls? Can the coalition hold together? Will Berlusconi return as Italian PM once more? It’s time to dust off your crystal ball and make your competition predictions for the year ahead. As before the…

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How well did YOU do predicting what would happen in 2012?

How well did YOU do predicting what would happen in 2012?

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How PBers got 2012 right and wrong The PB 2012 Prediction Competition Results It goes without saying that 2012 was an extraordinarily busy year – not only with the Olympics and the Jubilee, but politically it was pretty crammed too. The US election dominated the year, but there were plenty of elections elsewhere, with France, Russia, Mexico, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea – and two in Greece. The UK weighed in with the London Mayor contest, the locals, and no…

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Starting the Christmas festivities on PB…..

Starting the Christmas festivities on PB…..

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Henry G Manson writes in Praise of Tory MP Robert Halfon Last Christmas I took up the challenge of writing in praise of a Conservative MP I admire. As part of last year’s season of goodwill I chose David Davis This year I am taking my Santa’s hat off to Harlow’s Conservative MP Robert Halfon. Bob is defending a 4,925 majority but could prove to be very difficult for Labour shift for good reason. Halfon is a truly campaigning MP….

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Henry G Manson asks: “Is the Labour Party capable of Coalition?”

Henry G Manson asks: “Is the Labour Party capable of Coalition?”

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What if they fall short of a majority? It’s that time of the year again when Labour MPs wonder out loud how to approach the Liberal Democrats. What might seem irrelevant internal machinations can be revealing and have implications for 2015 in the case of a hung parliament. This week there has been a new grouping created, oddly called Labour for Democracy. It has little to directly do with democracy other than encourage the party to work with other ‘progressive’…

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What about the David Cameron description UKIP as being a party mostly of “fruit-cakes, nutters and closet racists” ?

What about the David Cameron description UKIP as being a party mostly of “fruit-cakes, nutters and closet racists” ?

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Henry G Manson makes the case David Cameron’s quote about UKIP has been bandied around the press this weekend amid speculation he may distance himself from it. He was right not to do so. Whatever the politics or prejudices of UKIP supporters there are things we do know about them in the public domain. They’re not something that any mainstream political party should have anything to do with. There also those in UKIP rejected by the Conservatives because they no…

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