At 4-1 the CON most votes/LAB most seats bet is still the best GE2015 punt

At 4-1 the CON most votes/LAB most seats bet is still the best GE2015 punt

CON odds on with Ladbrokes http://t.co/5FG1QdHZUh to win most votes, LAB odds to win most seats. Best bet 4/1 dbl pic.twitter.com/80ZexOnrbP — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) July 26, 2014 My current reading is that UKIP returnees will gradually boost CON shares while LAB will retain almost all the 2010 LD switchers which has been the bed-rock of their polling for nearly four years. This means that in terms of national vote shares the outcome will be very tight. The voting patterns…

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Austria, Serbia and George W Bush

Austria, Serbia and George W Bush

The descent into WWI is a 21st Century story Sepia-toned silent images of black-coated or feather-hatted diplomats lend a reassuring distance to the events that plunged the world into war a hundred years ago this week.  It looks like a world long since vanished and in one sense, it is.  However, like much of that story, it is an illusion; all the more dangerous for the complacency that false reassurance breeds. Far from being a different age, the threats posed…

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Local By-Election Results: July 24th 2014

Local By-Election Results: July 24th 2014

Clifton on Blackpool (Lab Defence) Result: Labour 501 (41%), UKIP 362 (30%), Conservatives 283 (23%), Liberal Democrats 33 (3%), Greens 25 (2%), TUSC 10 (1%) Labour HOLD with a majority of 139 (11%) Turnout: 23% (Grateful thanks to Blackpool Council for their publication of the result and vote shares) Edenthorpe, Kirk Sandall and Barnby Dun on Doncaster (Lab Defence) Result: UKIP 1,203 (41%), Labour 1,109 (38% unchanged), Conservatives 479 (16% +2%), Greens 160 (5%) UKIP GAIN from Labour with a…

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Ukip sheds 4% and the Tories move up by 3% in the latest Populus online poll

Ukip sheds 4% and the Tories move up by 3% in the latest Populus online poll

This is the lowest UKIP share since the firm’s methodology change in February What will really please the Tories is that, like ICM last week, the UKIP drop has been accompanied by a rise in the CON share, It holds out hope that the Tories could move into the lead even though LAB stays constant. The crazy thing about GE2015 is that it is really about two battles: CON versus UKIP to get the switchers back and LAB versus LD…

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Farage could be preparing a surprise for Ed Milband at his September conference in Doncaster

Farage could be preparing a surprise for Ed Milband at his September conference in Doncaster

UKIP GAIN from LAB in EdM's backyard Edenthorpe on Doncaster UKIP 1,203 LAB 1,109 CON 479 GRN 160 EdM sits for Doncaster N — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) July 25, 2014 Farage’s party gains council seat from LAB with 41% of vote in EdM’s Doncaster N backyard There are a lot of places in Yorkshire which spring to mind as good conference venues. Harrogate, Scarborough, York and Leeds would probably be the main choices but not, I’d suggest, Doncaster which is where the Ukip…

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Harry Hayfield’s Local By-Election Preview: July 24th 2014

Harry Hayfield’s Local By-Election Preview: July 24th 2014

Clifton on Blackpool (Lab Defence) Last election to council (2011): Labour 27, Conservatives 14, Liberal Democrats 1 (Labour majority of 12) Last election in ward (2011): Emboldened denotes elected Labour 1,090, 911 Conservatives 567, 475 Independent 221 Candidates duly nominated: Bruce Allen (Con), Gita Gordon (Lib Dem), Tina Rothery (Green), Spencer Shackleton (UKIP), Luke Taylor (Lab), Phillip Watt (TUSC) It has been said that to holiday in Blackpool, you should count on nothing being the same. It may be hot…

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July’s Issues Index has immigration and the economy down – but health, crime and the international situation all showing increases

July’s Issues Index has immigration and the economy down – but health, crime and the international situation all showing increases

Immigration down 3% in @IpsosMORI Issues Index but still the main concen. Health up 3 & Crime up 4 pic.twitter.com/7pEci2lB9q — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) July 23, 2014 Above is the top ten from the July Ipsos-MORI issues index which featured in the previous thread. The risers and and fallers are all there.

Concern about the economy continues its dramatic collapse – but that could mean it’ll be less of an issue at GE2015

Concern about the economy continues its dramatic collapse – but that could mean it’ll be less of an issue at GE2015

The sharp & extraordinary decline of the economy as a key issue – @IpsosMORI Issues Index pic.twitter.com/VpJtLoS1sb — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) July 23, 2014 Don’t assume that voters do gratitude All the economic indicators in recent months have been positive for the coalition and this is picked up in the July Ipsos-MORI Issues Index where concern about the economy has continued its sharp and quite dramatic fall. This is the monthly polling that has been carried out in exactly the…

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