Test post from Dirty Dicks

Test post from Dirty Dicks

We’ve had some technical problems today which is why there hasn’t been a new post all day. I’m at the PB gathering at Dirty Dicks where we’ve had a great turnout including a number who have travelled from as far as Manchester and Leeds to be here. I’ll report on things later. Mike Smithson

Henry G Manson on the LAB effort to take away the Tories most prized northern asset – the N Tyneside mayoralty

Henry G Manson on the LAB effort to take away the Tories most prized northern asset – the N Tyneside mayoralty

EdM on ferry crossing the Tyne to support campaign to win back for LAB the North Tyneside mayoralty from the Tories twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/st… — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) April 19, 2013 Henry G Manson on an intriguing battle There has been some discussion this week on the strength of didn’t women MPs in the Conservative Party and in Labour with some wondering if there will be another ‘Margaret’ in the near future. I can’t spot many, although a couple of years ago…

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With just two weeks to go before the biggest sets of elections of 2013 – tonight’s local by-election

With just two weeks to go before the biggest sets of elections of 2013 – tonight’s local by-election

Harry Hayfield with his weekly preview Angmering on Arun (Con Defence) Last Local Election (2011): Con 48, Lib Dem 4, Lab 3, Ind 1 (Conservative majority of 40) Last Local Election (2011): Con 1520, 1404, 1324 (Average: 39%) Lib Dem 550 (16%) Lab 538 (15%) Ind 524 (15%) UKIP 517 (15%) Candidates duly nominated: Jamie Bennett (Lib Dem), Andy Cooper (Con), Carly Goodwin (Lab) It is now just over a month since the Liberal Democrats inflicted what can only be…

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Ipsos Mori Political Monitor for April

Ipsos Mori Political Monitor for April

Ipsos Mori Political Monitor for April is out now, the changes are from their last poll in March   Conservatives 29 (+2) Labour 38 (-2) Lib Dems 10 (-1) UKIP 15 (+2)   The UKIP share is the highest share ever for the party in a phone poll On the Leadership ratings Mr Miliband has the highest net satisfaction rating of the three main party leaders, on minus 16 compared with Mr Cameron’s minus 28 and Mr Clegg’s dire minus…

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Corporeal on Lady Thatcher

Corporeal on Lady Thatcher

Northern Echo: We’ll always remember her #tomorrowspaperstoday twitter.com/hendopolis/sta… — Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 17, 2013   With the passing of Margaret Thatcher, many obituaries have been written (or at least dusted off and had the dates filled in) alongside as many pieces about her time in power and that word that hangs over every politician, legacy. What many of them will do at some point is refer to her as “The Grocer’s Daughter” (and this is the title of the…

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PB Nighthawks is now open

PB Nighthawks is now open

Home of the web’s best political conversation Relax, and converse into the night on the day’s events. If you’ve always been a lurker, this thread is, Especially for you, get, Into the Groove, by posting on PB, become the New Kids On The Block. NEW POLL OUT There’s a new Angus Reid Poll out, the fieldwork was on the 12th-13th of April, the changes are from the last Angus Reid Poll in January. Labour 39 (nc) Conservatives 27 (-3) Lib…

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Electoral reform – Coming sooner than you think?

Electoral reform – Coming sooner than you think?

A few days ago, Simon Hughes speaking in the Financial Times, about potential future coalition negotiations in 2015, said “If the time did come for more coalition negotiations, the experience of coalition the first time will be clearly taken on board when we think through what we would do a second time. “The constitutional reform agenda and particularly reform of the Lords would have to be a part of the package.” Now a hung parliament is a possibility, especially if the polls continue to narrow…

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Nate Silver on UK politics

Nate Silver on UK politics

New PB Thread: Nate Silver on UK Politics.www7.politicalbetting.com/index.php/arch… twitter.com/TSEofPB/status… — TSEofPB (@TSEofPB) April 17, 2013   In recent years, following the advice of Nate Silver, has been very profitable. Over the weekend he was interviewed in the Times (££) on a variety of subjects, on the subject of UK politics, the following exchange took place What about Britain’s coalition government, I (the interviewer) say. Will it survive? He thinks for a moment. “So, I’ve never quite understood,” he says. “What are…

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