Meanwhile away from UKIP runners declare themselves in 3 political races and an 8/1 tip from Damian McBride

Meanwhile away from UKIP runners declare themselves in 3 political races and an 8/1 tip from Damian McBride

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The LAB leadership contest Yvette Cooper and Andy Burnham announce Labour leadership bids http://t.co/ALs3cTkRak pic.twitter.com/n9AaIwBqJC — PoliticsHome (@politicshome) May 14, 2015 The LD leadership contest The least unexpected news of the day Farron to run for LD leadership http://t.co/NaQpE7GhOV pic.twitter.com/SHxZnS7NnP — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) May 14, 2015 LAB selection for the 2016 London Mayoral race Join the movement to deliver the change that London needs. We're launching next week… http://t.co/zwsqzRDbSZ pic.twitter.com/YnVQPdc1B1 — Tessa Jowell (@TessaJowell) May 13, 2015 London: it’s…

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The UKIP implosion Part 2: Farage accused of being “snarling, thin-skinned and aggressive”

The UKIP implosion Part 2: Farage accused of being “snarling, thin-skinned and aggressive”

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UKIP's campaign chief launches remarkable attack on Nigel Farage http://t.co/gXcZMALMyp pic.twitter.com/izyjlb9gUn — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) May 14, 2015 The fall-out from Farage’s unresignation continues Last Friday Nigel Farage stepped down as UKIP leader following his failure to become an MP. After the weekend that was all rescinded when the party executive refused to accept it. The following day there was a hugely publicised row between Farage and his party’s only MP Douglas Carswell. This morning the Guardian and a number…

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What a great idea for Labour’s leadership contest – test each of them out at PMQs

What a great idea for Labour’s leadership contest – test each of them out at PMQs

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I hope Labour allows all the leadership contenders to take it in turns at PMQs before the vote… — Will Jennings (I'm not here, see you at ?? ) (@drjennings) May 13, 2015 Given that the weekly slot at PMQs is such an important platform for the leader of the opposition then the idea being promoted by Dr Will Jennings seems a very good plan. How will each of them perform one week at a time against Cameron? Will they…

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Marf on six days after

Marf on six days after

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Kent police make enquiries following reports of electoral fraud in Thanet South #GE2015 seat http://t.co/xCC6na4QDf pic.twitter.com/D11flj5EhW — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) May 13, 2015 William Hill http://t.co/orbZ1dFWfnNigel Farage to become MP before next General Election: Yes 7/4; No 2/5 — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) May 13, 2015 Douglas Carswell to remain UKIP MP until next General Election: Yes 8/11 No Evens — William Hill http://t.co/orbZ1dFWfn — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) May 13, 2015 A ,ore elegant version of the LAB leadership timetable…

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Farage’s biggest mistake was to duck the Eastleigh by election

Farage’s biggest mistake was to duck the Eastleigh by election

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A big public split with Carswell was almost inevitable The very public row that has broken out between Farage and his party’s only MP, Douglas Carswell, was one that had been widely predicted. The only issue was what would spark it off. For because of his unique MP status it is up to Carswell to decide on how the public funds that UKIP is due from what is known as Short money should be used. The Clacton MP believes passionately…

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The LAB leadership contest: the betting has it down to five

The LAB leadership contest: the betting has it down to five

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The top 5 in the betting for LAB leader pic.twitter.com/YOkCTofado — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) May 12, 2015 I don’t know about others but I’ve been betting on the next LAB leader for almost five years. There was a time when EdM’s fortunes looked very grim indeed and the story then was that Mr&Mrs Balls were planning a coup that would see Yvette take on the flag carrying role. Then we had the 2012 budget and LAB’s ratings soared into the…

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Mr. Cameron might rue the day that his party was reluctant to embrace the reform of the House of Lords

Mr. Cameron might rue the day that his party was reluctant to embrace the reform of the House of Lords

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The numbers look potentially tricky A key moment in the last parliament was in July 2012 when CON back-bench rebels voted down a timetable motion on the Lords Reform bill thus making it highly unlikely that it would get through the house. A few days later Cameron pulled the plans completely – a move that led to Mr. Clegg pulling the plug on boundary reform. So the upper house remains unreformed something that could be tricky for the government as…

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What went wrong with the polling? More starts to emerge but few answers

What went wrong with the polling? More starts to emerge but few answers

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Labour's private pollsters had party in much worse position than public polls. http://t.co/hRSjDD5Sof pic.twitter.com/QkoNMHccme — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) May 12, 2015 In this News Statesman article James Morris, from Labour’s US-based pollster GQR, explain how its approach was different and is likely to produce far fewer don’t knows which, it is argued, add to accuracy. He also notes that I was one of those interviewed. “The main difference between our polls and the newspaper polls is that we don’t ask…

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