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Nick Sparrow’s March PB Polling Column

Nick Sparrow’s March PB Polling Column

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Canadian pollsters advise voters to be wary of polls! Research-live, the online newspaper for the UK market research industry reports that the Marketing Research & Intelligence Association (MRIA) in Canada has been driven to take out a full-page advertisement in the The Hill Times (a political weekly) aimed at reversing criticism of opinions polls. It seems the ad is needed because the pollsters themselves have been blabbing about the state of their own industry. Some it seems have been quoted…

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The Ireland count finally nears the close

The Ireland count finally nears the close

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RTE Record seat hauls for FG, Labour, and Sinn Fein as FF collapse Links: RTE live blog RTE map and results Irish Times Irish Independent Many smaller European countries manage to count their votes in four hours or less, but Ireland isn’t one of them. However, the marathon vote count in this historic election is finally drawing to a close, but with 16 Dail seats remaining to be filled, and four constituencies still counting (Laois-Offaly, Wicklow, and recounts in both…

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Ireland 2011 – live results thread

Ireland 2011 – live results thread

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Irish Times FG set for government, FF for meltdown, Labour for coalition? Links: RTE live RTE constituency map One of the world’s longest election counts is now underway, with unofficial (but normally very accurate) vote tallies coming in from all over Ireland. Most first counts won’t be declared until mid-afternoon or even early evening, and it’s likely to take well into Sunday for the counting to near its finish. What is already clear is that this will be a historic…

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Penddu on that other referendum…in Wales

Penddu on that other referendum…in Wales

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Yes – No – Quick Quick -Slow It is part of Britain’s unwritten constitution that referendums are held whenever there is a constitutional issue at stake that crosses party lines. So this begs the question why the Welsh Powers referendum being held on March 3rd is being held at all. This referendum is not on a major constitutional change as Wales has had primary law-making powers since 2007, and the issue at stake is only a technical one as to…

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And now Roger on the Oscars – this year decided by AV

And now Roger on the Oscars – this year decided by AV

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(Every year on PB Roger gives us his Oscar predictions and betting advice. Those who who’ve followed his analysis have generally come out as winners – let’s hope it’s the same this year – MS) Where are the awards going to go? A great year for British films which I hope can withstand the philistinism of this Tory government. Stjohn asked if I could suggest value bets so where two films are close I’ll suggest he takes a punt on…

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Jonathan’s Sunday slot

Jonathan’s Sunday slot

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Did we see the future at Treasury Questions? I enjoyed watching Treasury questions this week. It was a fascinating parliamentary occasion that provided a window on the future and posed lots of questions. We were treated to the initial skirmish of Osborne vs. Balls, the political fight that will probably determine the next election. We got a showcase of fresh talent on the front benches. And we were reminded just how closely the coalition parties are aligning themselves. Why waste…

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Should Iain Gray offer the Scottish Lib Dems a lifeline?

Should Iain Gray offer the Scottish Lib Dems a lifeline?

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A guest slot by Lucien Fletcher With opinion polls suggesting that Labour will perform well in the Scottish Parliament elections on May 5th, the party will have a great opportunity to move on from a difficult couple of years. The party should retain its hold on the National Assembly for Wales, make strong gains in English local authorities and regain power in the Scottish Parliament. Unless all opinion polls are utterly wrong in Scotland, Labour will be comfortably the largest…

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Does social democracy have a future?

Does social democracy have a future?

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A special guest slot by Sean Fear Social Democracy has been the dominant political philosophy in Western Europe for the past 50 years or so, and has been influential in the rest of the Western World over the same period. A political philosophy is dominant when even its opponents are obliged to accept its fundamental beliefs, in order to get elected. Essentially, Social Democrats (unlike more traditional Socialists) believe that there is no need for governments to take direct control…

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