What happened when Yvette Cooper made a last minute appeal on behalf of Owen Smith

What happened when Yvette Cooper made a last minute appeal on behalf of Owen Smith

This isn't even shocking anymore but what horrible abuse for expressing an opinion pic.twitter.com/uOLeXNxWmg — Helena Horton (@horton_official) September 20, 2016 Why is it that some JC backers are such nasty pieces of work? One feature that has characterised this LAB leadership campaign has been the sheer nastiness that we have seen on social media. The above Tweet this afternoon is just the latest example. It seems that female LAB MPs have received more of it and those, like Ruth…

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Just how strong is Momentum? Don Brind takes a sceptical look at the numbers

Just how strong is Momentum? Don Brind takes a sceptical look at the numbers

Perceptions about its size could be greater than the reality I’m only a few years younger than Neil Kinnock so when he tells John Pienaar on Panorama he fears that he may never see another Labour government in his lifetime it’s an “ouch” moment for me. I regularly go in to bat for Kinnock with fans of Tony Blair, especially when they trot out the line “he won three general elections”. My argument is that Blair benefited hugely from the…

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Terror casts a shadow over the race for the White House

Terror casts a shadow over the race for the White House

Keiran Pedley looks at how unfolding events in New York and New Jersey might impact the US presidential race. It is sadly inevitable that events in New York and New Jersey – coming so soon after the anniversary of 9/11 – will be analysed through the prism of the coming election. What is less clear is the impact they will have. The traditional view is that events surrounding national security will favour the Republican candidate. However, given that the Republican…

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Suddenly independence starts to look a much scarier prospect to the Scots. BREXIT could be keeping the union together

Suddenly independence starts to look a much scarier prospect to the Scots. BREXIT could be keeping the union together

Survation finds big move against Independence in latest Scottish poll Yes 42% (-5)No 48% (+7)Changes from June 28 — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) September 19, 2016 It’s not only the oil prices but so much more appears undercertain Survation’s latest Scottish poll, like some other similar surveys, have found that the mood is moving away from independence. The normal response is to blame the oil price but I wonder if it goes deeper than that. BREXIT has added so many new…

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The LAB selectorate polls don’t always get it right – remember this from June 2007

The LAB selectorate polls don’t always get it right – remember this from June 2007

Both the Telegraph and Sky wrongly announced that Alan Johnson had won the deputy race Remember June 2007? So many Labour MPs had chickened out of doing other than nominate Brown for leader that there weren’t enough left for another candidate to go on the ballot. The result – the party got what the polling indicated was a leader who was an electoral liability – not someone who could lead them into a fourth successive general election victory. Instead there…

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Whatever you think about Momentum it sure knows how to get media attention

Whatever you think about Momentum it sure knows how to get media attention

Introducing 'Momentum Kids' To Provide Political Education For Children And Childcare For Parents https://t.co/LkmDILhsf4 via @HuffPostUKPol — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) September 18, 2016 Quite how serious this is we don’t know but it will sure set off a narrative Well done to Paul Waugh of Huff Post for another great political story – this time on a the plan to create Momentum Kids. Reading his article it almost appears like some massive trolling effort which will further focus attention on…

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Analysis: Corbyn has the worst end first year satisfaction ratings of any LAB leader in opposition

Analysis: Corbyn has the worst end first year satisfaction ratings of any LAB leader in opposition

Brown, who was of course PM, had the largest negative numbers This last week has marked the first anniversary of Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour party and I thought it worth checking the standing of other LAB leaders at this stage. As can been seen from the chart Gordon Brown was doing worse but of those who were in opposition Corbyn’s numbers are the worst. Interestingly the LAB leader with the best ratings was, of course, Tony Blair and he…

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Is George Osborne the answer to Brexit?

Is George Osborne the answer to Brexit?

Embed from Getty Images   I didn’t think this would be a post I’d ever write. Anyone who’s followed my posts over the last three years will know I’m not exactly George Osborne’s biggest fan. I felt he turned from being a huge asset to the Conservatives in the opposition years into a Chancellor who cynically viewed his voters and supporters as mere chesspieces – only worthy of narrow tactical calculations that might advance his career – and his fellow…

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