Labour, heading towards the cliff

Labour, heading towards the cliff

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The Leadership Election is their last chance to save themselves ‘Exceptional things don’t happen as often as commentators think’ is nearly always a good betting rule of thumb but there are two riders to that assertion. Firstly, ‘not as often’ doesn’t mean ‘never’, and secondly, when they do happen, they can cluster. In fact, 2016 hasn’t been quite as extraordinary as some might believe, though only because 2015 was. Brexit might be a defining moment in both the UK’s and…

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The nastiness in the LAB leadership race is getting worse and now UNITE boss McCluskey is blaming MI5!

The nastiness in the LAB leadership race is getting worse and now UNITE boss McCluskey is blaming MI5!

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Just caught up with this Guardian story on UNITE boss Len McCluskey. Extraordinaryhttps://t.co/lyu7Qq9XxB pic.twitter.com/yUr21zs1xD — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) July 22, 2016 The response from ex-LAB Home Secretary Jacqui Smith A downright insult to the dedicated staff of MI5 who are actually working day & night to protect us from terrorism https://t.co/GI7RZEqQeQ — Jacqui Smith (@Jacqui_Smith1) July 22, 2016

It’s being reported that Virginia Senator, Tim Kaine. will be named latest today as Clinton’s running mate

It’s being reported that Virginia Senator, Tim Kaine. will be named latest today as Clinton’s running mate

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It looks as though the Virginia Senator, Tim Kaine is set to be Clinton's running mate. 85% chance on Betfair pic.twitter.com/2oetspWFug — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) July 22, 2016 A message is due to go out from the Clinton campaign later today with her choice of VP nominee. All the reports suggest that she’s chosen Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia. There had been much speculation that she might have gone for Massachusetts Senator, Elizabeth Warren, who has become one of Donald…

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Maybe LAB leadership contests should become an annual event

Maybe LAB leadership contests should become an annual event

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TELEGRAPH: Matt shoots, scores. #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/DLSVXuTLks — Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 21, 2016 Corbyn now: “it’s the job, it’s the duty, it’s the responsibility of every Labour MP” to back party. Corbyn then: pic.twitter.com/htZJ94C8DN — John Rentoul (@JohnRentoul) July 21, 2016

After a week of big national developments we’ve ten local by-elections

After a week of big national developments we’ve ten local by-elections

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Exmouth, Littleham (Con defence) and Honiton, St. Michael’s (Con defence) on East Devon Result of council at last election (2015): Conservatives 37, Independents 16, Liberal Democrats 6 (Conservative majority of 17) Referendum Result: REMAIN 40,743 (46%) LEAVE 48,040 (54%) on a turnout of 79% Result of wards at last election (2015) Exmouth, Littleham: Emboldened denotes elected Conservatives 1,667 E, 1,636 E, 1,489 E (26%) Independent 1,224 (19%) Liberal Democrat 1,170 (19%) United Kingdom Independence Party 1,164 (18%) Green Party 1,102…

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If the courts remove Corbyn from the ballot then LAB would have lost an electoral liability but gained £4.5m

If the courts remove Corbyn from the ballot then LAB would have lost an electoral liability but gained £4.5m

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Next Wednesday a court will hear a case brought by a major LAB donor that the NEC was wrong to have allowed Corbyn to be on the ballot without securing the support of 51 MPs and MEPs. I’ve no idea about the chances of the case succeeding but Michael Crick has reported that there is some concern within the party about the case. If this does go forward it would be absolutely mega and it is hard to see what…

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Extraordinary scenes at the GOP convention as Ted Cruz doesn’t back Trump and says “Vote with your conscience”

Extraordinary scenes at the GOP convention as Ted Cruz doesn’t back Trump and says “Vote with your conscience”

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And the Donald is accused of cosying up to Putin Normally the third day of US presidential conventions is for speaker after speaker to get behind the nominee and make rabble rousing speeches. Overnight in Cleveland, Ohio, the contender who had run Trump closest in the primaries, Senator Ted Cruz, had a different approach and refused to back the man who 24 hours beforehand had officially become the nominee. Cruz was also speaking in prime time, that part of the…

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After another massive political 7 days in the UK & US it’s time to reflect with the latest PB/Polling Matters TV Show

After another massive political 7 days in the UK & US it’s time to reflect with the latest PB/Polling Matters TV Show

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The scale and pace of political events is simply breath-taking with PM May’s first PMQs, the LAB leadership race now down to two with campaigning just ratcheting up and, of course, the Republican Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Examining all of this: Keiran Pedley is in the chair with Lord Stewart Wood, the Labour peer and Oxford academic, and Conor Pope of LabourList The audio podcast is here: Mike Smithson Follow @MSmithsonPB Tweet