Labour continues to lose the economy blame game: EdM needs a new Shadow Chancellor

Labour continues to lose the economy blame game: EdM needs a new Shadow Chancellor

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It’s now two and a half years since Ed Balls became shadow chancellor and, as the chart above shows, there’s been very little change in public perceptions over who is to blame for the cuts. The charge that it’s “Labour’s fault” continues to resonate. We see it time and time again whenever coalition ministers respond to criticism of their policies for the deficit. Everything is justified because of what they inherited from the last LAB government – an assertion that…

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LAB share drops 3 with Opinium and sees its lead down to 7 percent

LAB share drops 3 with Opinium and sees its lead down to 7 percent

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What's significant about Opinium is that the declining LAB lead is mostly down to its share falling 3% rather than CON progress — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) August 10, 2013 Cameron's net approval rating with Opinium is minus 15 – his best figures from the online firm since Jan — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) August 10, 2013

Unemployment just became more important to the rest of us

Unemployment just became more important to the rest of us

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Henry G Manson on the week’s big economic news This week the new Governor of the Bank of England shifted interest rate setting policy by indicating rates shouldn’t increase until unemployment falls to 7%. Acknowledging unemployment as a key indicator of economic health makes sense, but when Carney examines the breakdown  of unemployment figures in the UK he will see a mixed picture as in the chart. What’s clear is that when the 7% rate is eventually reached it will not…

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The numbers of Lib Dem lost deposits at GE2015 could be in the hundreds

The numbers of Lib Dem lost deposits at GE2015 could be in the hundreds

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One feature of the recent bout of local by-elections as well as last week’s Welsh Assembly contest in Ynys Mons has been the huge collapse in the Lib Dem vote. At the Merton LBC by-election yesterday at Colliers Wood the party’s vote share slumped by 15.1% to just 2.2%. At Skelton in Redcar and Cleveland the drop was 11.3% to just 2.5%. What we are seeing is the product of the party’s GE2015 defence strategy of only focusing on those…

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The value bet on the CON poll progress is the 6-1 that they they’ll top the poll in next year’s Euros

The value bet on the CON poll progress is the 6-1 that they they’ll top the poll in next year’s Euros

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UKIP still odds on favourite to win most votes in next May's EU elections pic.twitter.com/XgrwyLktDC — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) August 9, 2013 UKIP could have peaked a year too early It has almost been taken as read amongst the commentariat that UKIP will come top on votes in next year’s EU parliament elections. The result is that in the betting Farage’s party remains odds on favourite to do it. Yet another set of local by-elections overnight suggests that the fizz…

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Tonight’s local by-elections

Tonight’s local by-elections

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Let the count commence pic.twitter.com/so8zWMeVBm — Wimbledon Guardian (@WimbledonNews) August 8, 2013 Three LAB defences and a CON one Redcar and Cleveland UA, Skelton When fought last in 2011 it was: LAB 1238/921/876, CON 718/657, LD 312/269/248 Lab seat. Resignation Merton LBC, Colliers Wood When fought last in 2010 it was:LAB 2608/2367/2261, CON 1001/960/848, LD 888/804/608, GREEN 622 Labour seat. Death Waveney DC, Oulton When fought last in 2011 it was: LAB 502/420, IND 492, CON 474/372, GREEN 117, LD…

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