Can Ed turn thing round at his conference? As well as the voting intention figures in the latest ICM for the Guardian there are the firm’s leadership ratings which ask the question of whether the PM/leaders/etc are doing a good or bad job. Cameron sees a substantial boost but the biggest winner in terms of change is Nick Clegg. As we saw in the previous thread the voting intention figures had the Lib Dems down three points which must have…
How many of Cameron/Clegg/Miliband will still be leaders of their parties on general election day? None One Two Three The “poll” above is based on an an intriguing market from PaddyPower on how many of Cameron/Clegg/Miliband will still be leading their parties on the day of the general election. The options and prices are:- None 16/1 One 6/1 Two 6/4 Three 10/11 What I like is that is is just the numbers and not who. So if you…
Henry G Manson on the health changes In a speech to the Royal College of Nurses GPs in 2008 David Cameron won applause for his election pledge against “pointless top-down reorganisation that aim for change but just bring chaos.†Yet ‘chaos’ is surely a considerable risk now. The biggest restructuring of the NHS since it was created, contradictions running throughout the revised Health and Social Care Bill alongside £20 billion of efficiency saving targets. Oh and let’s not forget the…
Or is he being constrained by Nick & the Lib Dems? Several observers are reporting that there’s increasing concern amongst Tory MPs about Dave’s position on Europe. His detractors want a more eurosceptic approach which is very different from what they are hearing from their leader. Daniel Knowles in the Telegraph reports on the feelings of many Tory backbenchers: “… For many, Europe has taken on significance as a test of the power of Parliament. Though they bang the desks…
Does the PM’s Today comment create an opening? It seems like an age away but it’s only seven weeks – the last time that Dave and Ed faced each other at PMQs. A lot’s happened in the meantime – the increasing pressures on the financial markets and of course last month’s riots. So how’s Ed Miliband going to use this first opportunity to question, probe, and hopefully for him, pull off what’s seen as a victory over the PM? One…
Indy The biggest story after Libya this morning on the BBC news website is the allegation that News International was secretly funding Andy Coulson for several months after the ex-NOTW editor became David Cameron’s press chief in 2007. It’s said that the newspaper group was covertly making payments to it ex-employee and Tom Watson MP has called on the Electoral Commission to hold an inquiry. On the face of it this does sound serious but there might be a simpler…
What’ll be the domestic fall-out of the dictator going? I don’t know whether this is being a bit premature but it does start to look as though the Gaddafi era in Libya is coming to an end. Things have moved very fast in the past couple of days with fighting now moving into the capital, Tripoli. Whether this will take hours, days, or even weeks it is hard to see the dictator remaining in power. Close aides have begun to…
Ed Miliband sees the biggest drop The monthly online poll by ComRes for the Indy on Sunday/Sunday Mirror is just out and sees the coalition partners moving upwards while Labour stands still. The figures with comparisons on last month are CON 38% (+2): LAB 40% (nc): LD 11% (+1). These are all well within the margin of error though the blues will be pleased to be getting within two points of the reds. ComRes is continuing with its monthly leader…