Browsed by
Author: Editor

The PCC elections: the party machines will prevail

The PCC elections: the party machines will prevail

Comments 0 Comment

Tomorrow the big party machines will prevail in the police commissioner elections. www7.politicalbetting.com/?p=53712 twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/st… — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) November 14, 2012 The chances for the indies aren’t very high When the idea of elected Police and Crime Commissioners was being mooted one of the hopes that it would attract independent candidates without party allegiance. It certainly has done that but because of the very limited opportunity for individuals to get their message across this has proved challenging. Simply getting a…

Read More Read More

Thursday’s battle for the city of Bristol could be tight – is there money to be made?

Thursday’s battle for the city of Bristol could be tight – is there money to be made?

Comments 0 Comment

LAB hot odds-on favourites in the biggest mayoral battle outside London. See latest Bristol odds. bit.ly/c5gpH6 twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/st… — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) November 10, 2012 Shadsy from Ladbrokes assesses the chances Thursday sees the vote for the first directly elected Mayor of Bristol. Ladbrokes have had a book open on this since the city voted to create the post earlier in the year and here’s our guide to the runners, riders and market moves so far 1/2 Marvin Rees (Lab) 4/1…

Read More Read More

Did Cameron and Osborne over-celebrate the end of double-dip?

Did Cameron and Osborne over-celebrate the end of double-dip?

Comments 0 Comment

Did Cameron and Osborne over-celebrate the end of double-dip? Henry G Manson thinks they did.goo.gl/1tf5m twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/st… — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) November 2, 2012 Henry G Manson on the politics of the GDP figures So eager were the Conservatives to trumpet the latest quarter’s economic growth figures that David Cameron almost fell foul of the rules preventing him from breaching the official publication time. The Prime Minister told Ed Miliband in a heated exchange at Prime Ministers Question Time a fortnight…

Read More Read More

A Marf Cartoon and a guest slot from James Kelly on polling and the Scottish referendum

A Marf Cartoon and a guest slot from James Kelly on polling and the Scottish referendum

Comments 0 Comment

Have the polls “consistently” shown that Scots are opposed to independence? Something that I know has privately frustrated the SNP in recent weeks and months is their perception that the media, especially south of the border but to some extent in Scotland as well, have bought into the anti-independence side’s narrative about what the polls on the referendum are showing. Newsnight’s coverage of the “treaty” between the Scottish and UK governments might stand as a case in point. Kirsty Wark…

Read More Read More

Can a billion dollars of pester power make up for a lack of enthusiasm?

Can a billion dollars of pester power make up for a lack of enthusiasm?

Comments 0 Comment

Edmund in Tokyo on the Obama fight-back One big question about the presidential election has been whether Republicans enthusiastic about defeating Obama and Democrats merely inclined to keep him, Romney will win the election by differential turnout. The Republicans often poll better among likely voters than registered voters, the combination of a weak economy and an uninspiring debate performance now puts the gap at as much as 5%. But in an election where 6 billion dollars worth of persuation is…

Read More Read More

EdM’s Manchester success could make it easier to shift Balls

EdM’s Manchester success could make it easier to shift Balls

Comments 0 Comment

Henry G Manson looks at the next chancellor betting Now that the Labour leader has raised his game, there will be some reflection on how Labour can boost its poor economic ratings. At some point before the election Ed Miliband may consider replacing Ed Balls as his Shadow Chancellor. Balls was the leader’s 3rd choice behind David Miliband and Alan Johnson. The Labour leadership should be concerned that despite Ed Balls calling a number of big issues right in the…

Read More Read More

Ed’s speech owes as much to Danny Boyle as it does to Disraeli

Ed’s speech owes as much to Danny Boyle as it does to Disraeli

Comments 0 Comment

Tweet The Henry G Manson verdict Today’s speech by Ed Miliband worked. It was a speech many thought he had in him and had seen glimpses of to Labour audiences on the campaign trail to be leader but feared would never be realised. The theme of One Nation Labour is very important because it is going to run right up to the election. Some have described the speech as ‘inspiring’ and even right of centre journalists seem complimentary about the…

Read More Read More

Ed Miliband’s big speech has got to be better than last year’s

Ed Miliband’s big speech has got to be better than last year’s

Comments 0 Comment

Henry G Manson looks forward to the next conference A year ago Ed Miliband gave an alarming performance at Labour party conference. Even thinking about it is traumatic. The speech wasn’t very good, the delivery was worse, delegates booed Tony Blair’s name and the TV feed was lost for several minutes half-way through. All that was needed was for the set to collapse and there would have enough material for a new series of You’ve Been Framed. The conclusion of…

Read More Read More