Has Fraser Nelson got it right on U-turns?

Has Fraser Nelson got it right on U-turns?

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Do Dave & George simply look like push-overs? There’s a good piece by Speccie editor, Fraser Nelson, in the Telegraph on the corrosive impact that successive U-turns are having on the government. “..It sometimes feels as if Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne do not regard themselves as being in power, but instead believe they are trapped – by the opinion polls, by the Liberal Democrats, by the Civil Service, by the bond markets, or by all four. Downing Street insiders…

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After the Obamacare decision is now time to bet on Romney?

After the Obamacare decision is now time to bet on Romney?

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Just put £250 on Romney at 1.58/1 on Betfair.My reading is that the market has over-reacted — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) June 28, 2012 @omerlev @JohnRentoul Political betting markets are not there to be predictive but places where you can make money is you are smart — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) June 28, 2012 Interesting little discussion on Twitter about the nature of political betting and whether or not it is predictive or not. My view is that this is not what…

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MORI: SLAB closing the gap on the SNP in Scotland

MORI: SLAB closing the gap on the SNP in Scotland

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Ipsos-MORI There’s a new Ipsos-MORI poll of voting intentions for the Scottish parliament and these show the same trends that we saw in the Scottish local elections on May 3rd. Scottish Labour moving up with the SNP moving down. A big loser since the last poll at the start of the year has been the Scottish Lib Dems. The shares, in common with MORI’s current practice are based on those certain to vote: SNP 45:LAB 32: CON 12: LD 6….

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Henry G Manson: Could Dave just be thinking of an early election?

Henry G Manson: Could Dave just be thinking of an early election?

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Why the 5 year law is not the blockage it appears? This week’s Michael Gove O-level story and David Cameron’s somewhat controversial speech as Conservative leader on welfare stuck out for me as being a bit peculiar. They were spun as what we might see from a future majority Conservative government. But who will remember this in May 2015? There are two plausible political explanations. The most likely is the Prime Minister needed to butter up the troops especially before…

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Wednesday night in the PB NightHawks Cafe

Wednesday night in the PB NightHawks Cafe

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Home of the web’s best political conversation Rekax and converse into the night on the day’s political events and, no doubt, this evening’s football. If you’ve always been a lurker why not join in tonight? Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB

Is Number 10 getting too heavy with the Lords reform rebels?

Is Number 10 getting too heavy with the Lords reform rebels?

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Will opposing really be “an interesting career” move? In what sounds a rather sinister move a Number 10 spokesman has said that those Tory MPs who rebel on the Lords reform proposal will be making “an interesting career move”. That sounds a bit Mafiosi. The problem about being fierce is that it could be counter-productive – though with a possible ministerial re-shuffle in the offing aspiring ministers might not be too keen on upsetting the boss. Clearly Cameron is totally…

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On the 5th Anniversary of Blair’s exit from No. 10……

On the 5th Anniversary of Blair’s exit from No. 10……

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Would Labour still be in power if they’d stuck with Tony? Exactly five years ago today, June 27th 2007, was a pivotal point in British politics. It was the moment when the triple general election winner Tony Blair stood down and when Gordon Brown took over after Labour MPs had given him the job without a contest. Blair, of course, was one of only three leaders in Labour’s entire history to lead the party to overall majorities The clip featured…

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Should George have held firm on the duty increase?

Should George have held firm on the duty increase?

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Why allow a victory for the Sun and Ed Balls? Given the pressure that’s been rising this afternoon’s announcement by the chancellor not to go ahead with the fuel duty increase is not that great a surprise. Labour had a been upping the ante and the newspaper that apparently calls the shots in Downing Street, the Sun, had been campaigning hard including a special piece from Ed Balls After all so much from his March budget has subsequently been amended…

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