Ofcom’s decision not to classify the Greens as a “major party” has wider consequences than just the debates

Ofcom’s decision not to classify the Greens as a “major party” has wider consequences than just the debates

Guardian's @patrickwintour on Ofcom decision not to classify Greens as "major party" for GE15 http://t.co/BYOYE7Uu57 pic.twitter.com/0HRwgv9cnX — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 8, 2015 This morning’s Ofcom ruling on what should be the “major parties” for the general election will impact on the overall amount of TV and radio coverage the parties get during the offical “short” election campaign which starts at the beginning of April. UKIP, following its Euro2014 triumph and now having 2 MPs, always look set to be…

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A week into the new year and the betting markets still very uncertain about what’s going to happen

A week into the new year and the betting markets still very uncertain about what’s going to happen

First week's trading on SportingIndex http://t.co/8brmIVQzQn commons seats almost no change on 2014. LAB by 5 MPs pic.twitter.com/HDm1jKrzTc — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 8, 2015 Only change a slight uptick for SNP Yesterday evening I was at the BBC offices next to parliament to record a discussion with Ipsos-MORI boss, Ben Page, about the coming election and what’s going to happen. This is due to go out on Radio 4’s “The Week in Westminster” programme at 11am on Saturday morning….

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If UKIP is a bit on the wane then maybe there are some good bets out there

If UKIP is a bit on the wane then maybe there are some good bets out there

A look at the seats where the purples are favourite Great Yarmouth From @LordAshcroft Constituency polling. http://t.co/sY9l3rAerf Great Yarmouth where UKIP is 5/4 favourite to win pic.twitter.com/6PKHWbEhbb — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 7, 2015 Thanet South Thanet South polling from @LordAshcroft where UKIP's Nigel Farage is odds-on favourite to win pic.twitter.com/FBmz8yhp7Y — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 7, 2015 Thurrock @LordAshcroft polling of the 3 way marginal of Thurrock where UKIP 5/6 betting favourite pic.twitter.com/xRAsKWSAcV — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 7, 2015…

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Forget PMQ reactions – the big story this afternoon is the killing in Paris

Forget PMQ reactions – the big story this afternoon is the killing in Paris

Gunmen responsible for deadly attack on #CharlieHebdo are still on the loose, @fhollande says. http://t.co/sBOkqaRg1Y pic.twitter.com/km88JvZmCa — CNN (@CNN) January 7, 2015 RIP Charb. Assassinated over a drawing today #CharlieHebdo pic.twitter.com/X9SosWGEBf — Ricardo Coutada (@rcoutada) January 7, 2015

YouGov’s UKIP share falls to lowest level since October – and this is with the party being prompted

YouGov’s UKIP share falls to lowest level since October – and this is with the party being prompted

Are the purples starting to fade as we get closer? http://t.co/xYOsg7KTOD pic.twitter.com/bOZQzTY5Jc — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 7, 2015 Today's YouGov poll for the Sun sees LAB and CON level pegging CON 33 LAB 33 LD 7 UKIP 13 GRN 8 — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 7, 2015 October 6th – last time that UKIP were as low as 13% with @YouGov pic.twitter.com/XfMClrsm8D — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 7, 2015 On UKIP's lowish numbers we need to see whether this is supported by other polling –…

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PB NightHawks is now open

PB NightHawks is now open

Home of the web’s best political conversation If you’re going to be up, All Night Long, why not relax, and converse into the night on the day’s events in PB NightHawks. If you’re a lurker, Hello,  why not delurk tonight, if you do delurk, I’m sure you’ll be Dancing on the Ceiling in excitement. The round up of recent events (click on the links below, and it will bring up the relevant link) Vince Cable will lose his economy job…

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