Why are oldies much more severe about hacking? As has been observed many times here before the older voters are the more likely  it is that they are on the electoral register and to vote. Also they are much more likely than the electorate as a whole to support the Conservatives. In 2010 the split amongst over 65s was CON 44: LAB 31: LD 16 compared with the overall GB figures of CON 37: LAB 29.7: LD 23.6. The over 65s…
Cameron’s numbers equal their previous low The YouGov weekly leader ratings are out and show that EdM is making a little bit of progress in recovering his position against Cameron. As the chart shows his net negative has been reduced by 4 while Cameron’s has increased by 3. Clegg’s figures remain in the doldrums though he does see a slight improvement. I regard leader ratings as the best guide and are superior to voting intention numbers. For me the best…
Can Labour expect the support of LDs and even some Tories? Several people have asked for my view of which way the 57 Lib Dem will vote if Ed Miliband goes ahead with his plan to move a motion on News Corporation’s planned take-over of the parts of BSkyB that it doesn’t already own. The debate and vote would take place on Wednesday and so far today we’ve seen comments from Simon Hughes and Chris Huhne. My guess is that…
Meanwhile 72% of voters say Murdoch has too much influence? There is some YouGov polling this morning linked to the hacking scandal though it is not part of the News International commissioned daily poll which appears in the Sun and the Sunday Times. The questioning started by trying to assess what proportion of those sampled were following the BSkyB take-over. A total of 44% said they were following development with 56% saying not. Amongst other findings: The planned BSkyB take-over…
Would it have been different if Dave hadn’t appointed Coulson? I certainly hold by that view. It was the presence of Coulson as Cameron’s key advisor that first “gave legs” to the whole hacking story. Then that was magnified when after the election Cameron made the ex-NOTW editor the Number 10 head of communications. HAT-TIP for picture to @NickMartinTV. Mike Smithson
Will it be Ed up and Dave down? Everybody it seems at the moment is coming out with the old Harold Wilson quote about “a week being a long time in politics” and the past seven days, surely, have been almost without precedent. So how will the week’s events have impacted on the poll findings that for me are by far the best indicator of opinion – the leadership ratings? We’ll have to wait a week or so for the…
Where do the developments so far leave the key players? The phone-hacking scandal has produced a bad week for many people. Some have been arrested, some tainted by association, some have lost their job, some have had their judgement questioned. A newspaper of 168 years standing has been closed. Others no doubt wait nervously. It’s big and dramatic news – perhaps too much so. Retaining a sense of proportion at times like this is crucial and difficult, not least because…
Is the hacking scandal really Britain’s Watergate? As Twitter followers will know the Indy’s @JohnRentoul has created a whole niche on the net with his QTWTAIN – questions to which the answer is no. Every time these are brought to his attention he seems to produce disapproving tweet and I think I hold the record for being singled out. So what does he think tomorrow’s Independent front page. We await his Tweet. Mike Smithson