Will an early poll follow on from the Labour surge? Although the chances of a 2009 election here in the UK may still be slim, by contrast the odds on one across the Irish sea have considerably shortened of late. Paddy Power had quoted 2009 at a meagre 11/10, but this has been slashed to just 1/2 in recent weeks. With Harper surviving the budget vote in Canada and Karamanlis still clinging on in Greece, Ireland is near the top…
Observer Is Boris going to be a thorn in Dave’s side in the years ahead? What might be good economics is not necessarily always good politics, as the Conservative leadership are discovering over the issue of whether or not to implement Labour’s planned 2011 income tax rise of 45p for the top rate. Lord Tebbit, who prefers spending cuts to tax rises, may be a repeat offender on speaking out against party policy in recent years, but then he does…
What are we predicting will happen in Wales? I’m back in the Land of My Fathers this weekend to watch the Wales v Ireland Six Nations decider, and to see my folks for Sunday Lunch on Mothers’ Day. As timing would have it, last week I made a vague promise to take a look at what might happen in Wales at the next General Election. Being London-based, I’m sure there is much news from the ground of which I’m simply…
News of the World Or is this now a lose-lose situation for the PM? Writing in the News of the World, former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey has called for Brown to say “sorry” – is there now going to become a growing clamour for the Prime Minister to say the s-word? He says: “…it would be a refreshing, and much overdue, acknowledgement of some responsibility for the state we are in…” and points to the example of Obama as…
Will the media even contemplate a success? Reading through the coverage a couple of weeks ago, and there was still some talk that a successful G20 summit in London – with President Obama appearing next to the Prime Minister on our shores – might provide the filip necessary for Labour to contemplate a Summer 2009 election. That seems a remote, if not faintly absurd, notion now. The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman lashed out at the lobby for setting unrealistic expectations…
Two new parties in a single day… After their success in forcing a ‘No’ vote on the Lisbon Referendum in Ireland, Declan Ganley’s LIBERTAS party has just sent out a Press Release announcing that they will be running for the European Parliament in the UK, as well as in every other member state. This confirmation may come as a surprise to some, as UKIP had registered the party name and run a candidate in a by-election to prevent Libertas from…
Morus comes off the fence It’s crucial for the integrity of PB.com that we are completely open about our allegiances and biases. Our Genial Host makes no secret of his Lib Dem membership, and I now need to be open about my allegiance. I have always been non-partisan, though never neutral, and still cannot bring myself to align with any of the political parties. For that reason, I’ve recently accepted a job helping run a new national campaign to support…
Guardian Online Can her leadership ambitions survive the Euros? Both in terms of betting opportunities and political intrigue, the Labour leadership will be the “gift that keeps giving” for the next eighteen months and maybe more. Today’s instalment is the news that Harriet has been lined up to run Labour’s campaign for the June Euro-elections. Labour secured less than 23% at the 2004 elections, one of the worst scores for a governing party in Europe, and are in serious danger…