David Herdson asks: Frack on or Frack off?

David Herdson asks: Frack on or Frack off?

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Anti-fracking protesters in Sussex pic.twitter.com/gywj7k002L — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) August 17, 2013 Is Cuadrilla’s climbdown in Sussex a victory for Luddite intimidation? August is an excellent time to stage a media-friendly protest.  With little other regular news about, domestically at least, journalists will be more than happy to report protesters marching, banner-waving and – in the more militant – causing a nuisance, breaching the peace and being arrested.  That the weather’s usually a bit more pleasant than in February doesn’t…

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It is 6-1 for CON to re-take Corby: By far the best bet for those who think the blues are in with a shout

It is 6-1 for CON to re-take Corby: By far the best bet for those who think the blues are in with a shout

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PaddyPower is offering 6/1 on the Tories retaking Corby – Louise Mensch’s old seat which was won by Labour in last November’s by-election. Given that the best you can now get on a CON majority is 3/1 then the Corby price is remarkably generous if you think that the Tories are in with a chance of, at the very minimum, of stopping Labour from getting most seats. Based on the GE2010 outcome Corby was LAB target number 27 and it…

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Henry G Manson says Ed needs to add grit and a touch of glamour in his reshuffle

Henry G Manson says Ed needs to add grit and a touch of glamour in his reshuffle

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Ten to follow for possible promotion Ed Miliband’s September reshuffle will be a significant affair and his last chance to form his team in the run up to the election. There is creeping frustration in the leaders’ office with the lack of new ideas among some shadow ministers and there’s a strong sense that an injection of new blood is needed. Here are my top ten to follow in the run up to the reshuflled – I expect them to…

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Three CON defences and a LAB one in tonight’s local by-elections

Three CON defences and a LAB one in tonight’s local by-elections

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Live scene from the count for the Manor House by-election waiting for the first ballot boxes #Hartlepool pic.twitter.com/d7EMqfuJIm — Richard Mennear (@RMennearHMail) August 15, 2013 Walsall MBC, Aldridge Central and South: CON defence (death) Last fought 2012 CON 1602: LAB 735: UKIP 517: LD 358 West Berkshire DC, Hungerford: CON defence (death) Last fought 2011 CON 1315/1178: LD 840/711 Torridge DC, Shebbear and Langtree:CON defence (resignation) Last fought 2011 CON 468:LD 273 Hartlepool UA, Manor House: LAB seat (Resignation) Last…

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LAB retains its double digit lead in the August Ipsos-MORI phone poll

LAB retains its double digit lead in the August Ipsos-MORI phone poll

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But the blues edge out of the 20s We’ve got the first details of the Ipsos-MORI poll in the Evening Standard which only gives partial details and wrongly describes “Leader Satisfaction ratings” as “Approval Ratings”. The big news is an increase in those disliking EdM – but let’s wait for proper numbers. I’ll update this post when we get full data from the pollster. Update – the satisfaction ratings Latest Ipsos-MORI leader and government satisfaction ratings. Farage joins the others…

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As we await the August IPSOS-MORI poll here are the latest GE2015 outcome prices

As we await the August IPSOS-MORI poll here are the latest GE2015 outcome prices

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Latest GE20115 betting has CON majority best price at 4/1. See chart with prices & where money is going pic.twitter.com/LmPTpEg42y — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) August 15, 2013 The August political monitor from Ipsos-MORI is expected later this morning with its regular leader satisfaction ratings and great set of charts. No other pollster presents their data in such an attractive and comprehensive way and there’s almost always good analysis from the firm which has been polling longer than anyone else. While…

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Night Hawks is open

Night Hawks is open

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Home of the web’s best political conversation Why not relax, and converse into the night on the day’s events in PB NightHawks. If you’re a lurker, why not delurk tonight, It Would Be So Nice if some of you delurked, I have High Hopes that some of you become Another Brick in the PB Wall. The round up of recent events (click on the links below, and it will bring up the relevant link) Get real – the coalition only handed their dodgy…

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