Come into the PB NightHawks cafe on this cold January night

Come into the PB NightHawks cafe on this cold January night

It’s warm here and the conversation is good Welcome to our regular overnight thread where the idea is that we are a bit more relaxed. If you’ve not posted before then why not do so tonight? It really is quite easy and the broader the range of views the better. Have a good evening. Mike Smithson @MikeSmithsonOGH

Should Cheryl have resigned over HS2?

Should Cheryl have resigned over HS2?

Daily Mail Why’s the Welsh Secretary still there? I guess I’m like many PBers who got on Cheryl Gillan in the next cabinet exit betting market following Henry G Manson’s piece on PB in November. In it he highlighted of the commitments she had made both before and after the general election. She was then 8/1 but that moved very sharply to 7/4. It seemed a no brainer. Alas even though the route does go through the heart of her…

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Huntsman’s withdrawal – another boost for Romney

Huntsman’s withdrawal – another boost for Romney

Based on data from Nate Silver’s 538 blogs/NYT Will the race be down to three by Saturday? The big news overnight in the race for the GOP nomination to fight Barack Obama is that John Huntsman is withdrawing. The news was hardly a surprise given he’s said all along that his continuation in the race depended on his showing in New Hampshire last Tuesday. In the end he came third in the state on just under 17% and the surprise…

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Ed drops to a negative rating amongst LAB voters

Ed drops to a negative rating amongst LAB voters

Has Miliband now crossed a threshold? More details of this morning’s YouGov poll for the Sunday Times have started to emerge from behind the paywall. Although LAB is back into the lead on voting intention there’s gloomy news for Ed in the leader ratings when YouGov asks “Do you think Ed Miliband is doing well or badly as leader of the Labour party?” For the first time ever more party supporters say he’s doing a “bad job” than say he’s…

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ICM : Staying in UK just 3pc ahead in Scotland poll

ICM : Staying in UK just 3pc ahead in Scotland poll

Something more for PB NightHawks to chew over There’s a new poll just our by ICM on Scottish independence for the Sunday Telegraph. The figures are 40% FOR independence and 43% for remaining in the UK. Amongst the English voters polled 43% support Scottish independence with only 32% opposed. Only those in Scotland, of course, will be allowed to vote. But the poll is not all good news for Alex Salmond. The paper’s Patrick Hennessy notes:- “..Today’s poll provides a…

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How big a referendum issue is the currency?

How big a referendum issue is the currency?

Would the SNP be able to keep the pound? I’ve just caught up on catch-up with last night’s Any Questions on Radio 4 which turned into a primer on the Scottish referendum. It was one of the best programmes that I have heard. What struck me particularly was the discussion on what a post-independence Scottish currency would be – a question that is not as simple as it appears. The choices seem to be the Euro, creating a new Scottish…

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