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Category: Lib Dems

Who’ll win the LD race – the debate continues

Who’ll win the LD race – the debate continues

PB.C party-goers discuss the chances Saturday’s second PB.C party attracted 40+ site regulars including Anthony Wells, founder of UK Polling Report, Guido Fawkes and Ian Dale, the owner of Politicos and who served as David Davis’s chief of staff. Clearly the Lib Dem leadership race was a key discussion point with many of the Tories there saying the candidate that they most feared was the former MEP, Nick Clegg, who is not a candidate and has come out strongly for…

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The men who’ve made the nomination rules a nonsense

The men who’ve made the nomination rules a nonsense

Don’t back anybody supported by these three Introducing Mike Hancock, John Hemming and Paul Rowen – the three Lib Dem MPs who are said to be coming to the rescue of leadership candidates who cannot find fellow MPs to nominate them. Under the contest rules agreed only in September 2005 all candidates have to have the support of 10% of the parliamentary party before they can get on the ballot. At the time it was seen as a way of…

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Hughes moves into the 3rd favourite slot

Hughes moves into the 3rd favourite slot

After what must surely be the busiest day of betting ever on a Lib Dem leadership contest the party president, Simon Hughes has now moved into the favourite slot – ahead of the early well backed former odds-on favourite – the 64 year old Ming Campbell. But the betting sensation of the past 36 hours, the former Euro MP who has only been at Westminster for nine months, Chris Huhne is now well established as third favourite. The day has…

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Is Chris Huhne the Lib Dem Cameron?

Is Chris Huhne the Lib Dem Cameron?

From 300/1 to 16/1 in just 24 hours In one of the most staggering political betting moves ever the price on the former Guardian and Indy journalist, Chris Huhne, becoming Lib Dem leader has, as the chart shows, tightened from 300/1 to just 16/1 in the course of 24 hours. Behind this market activity was a growing view, reinforced by his appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, that Sir Menzies Campbell, the 64 year-old interim leader may not be the…

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Punters dump Campbell after lacklustre PMQ debut

Punters dump Campbell after lacklustre PMQ debut

Commons appearance raises doubts on the interim leader When Sir Menzies Campbell became interim leader of the Lib Dems on Saturday afternoon he must have thought that being in the job would play a big part in helping him in the leadership election campaign. It certainly gave him an opportunity to shine because this afternoon he was able stand in the Lib Dem leader’s position at Prime Minister’s Questions. The general verdict was that his performance was “lacklustre” and some…

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Lib Dems drop 3 points with Populus

Lib Dems drop 3 points with Populus

Could the collapse encourage a Campbell Coronation? The January Populus Poll is out in the Times this morning and shows CON 36 (+1): LAB 39 (+1): LD 16 (-3). So the big move since before Christmas has been away from the Lib Dems. This is likely to have a big impact on the party’s MPs as they consider whether to nominate another candidate so that there is a contest. Would a protracted leadership election provide a poll boost like that…

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Will Hughes and Oaten risk being humiliated?

Will Hughes and Oaten risk being humiliated?

Revised YouGov figures reinforce their dilemma With Charles Kennedy calling for a contest to decide his replacement the party President, Simon Hughes, and the party’s Home Affairs spokesman, Mark Oaten have yet to say whether they want to fight Menzies Campell to join David Cameron and Tony Blair in the line line-up of main party leaders. With the best price available on Menzies Campbell being just 0.53/1 punters have made the 64 year old Edinburgh lawyer a strong favourite. His…

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The money goes on Ming

The money goes on Ming

Will he be returned uncontested? After this afternoon’s dramatic resignation from the Lib Dem leadership by Charles Kennedy the money has been going on the 64 year old ex-international sprinter, Sir Menzies Campbell to win the contest to replace him. Just two hours after Kennedy’s announcement the best bookmaker price available on Campbell was 8/15 with 0.51/1 being available on Betfair. Campbell is the only person to formally declare his candidature and has received endorsements by a number of senior…

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