Did he do enough to start to turn things round? Given the pressure that Ed Miliband has been under these past few days I was impressed by his big speech this afternoon. Not only did we see a step change in his delivery but the content was more substantial and a good answer to those who’ve accused him in the past of being far too vague. His voice came over as much less nasal which makes his speeches a little…
Is this a policy where there’ll be no U-turn? Almost whenever the public is polled on which areas of government expenditure should be cut Britain’s international aid programme comes near the top. Yet this, together with the NHS, are two parts of the government’s spending that were specifically ring-fenced at the general election and have continued to maintain their privileged status. This is in spite of sustained attacks from the tabloids on money being spent overseas at a time of…
Interesting betting market from Stan James on which Tory MP first elected in 2010 will make it to the cabinet. Newcomer Tory MP Betting odds Comments Claire Perry 7/2 Her comments about Bercow attracted a lot of attention – but she’s smart, loyal and serious Anna Soubry 3/1 She took Nick Palmer’s seat at the election – impressive in recent TV performances – articulate with the common touch. Like Andrew Lansley she is ex-SDP. Matthew Hancock 6/1 Well briefed, well…
On the previous thread one or two people were asking for information on the latest party leader ratings from YouGov. The figures are represented in the chart above with change in the net from the last poll a week ago. The YouGov question asks “Do you think DC/EdM/NC is doing well or badly as leader of the Labour party?” It’s put in exactly the same form almost every week so we can track trends. I much prefer the Ipsos-MORI form…
Next speaker of the Lords Ladbrokes Odds Frances d’Souza evens Tony Colwyn 5/2 Alastair Goodlad 4/1 Megnad Desai 7/1 Angela Harris 10/1 Julian Redesdale 50/1
Is it worth 11/4 that he’ll be out before the election? A lot of focus on Ed Miliband in the Sundays this morning with the Indy on Sunday saying that “friends of David Miliband” are saying that the brother who lost last September’s leadership election is “waiting for his brother Ed to fail” as Labour leader and is “poised” to make another bid for the job. The report goes on: “.Last night, a friend of David Miliband told The IoS…
Labour Uncut September 2010 Is the Labour leader really “..as safe as houses..” If Ed Miliband and his team are concerned this weekend about his position as Labour leader then he should look no further than the latest Dan Hodges observations on his position on Labour Uncut. “..But Ed Miliband will survive. Protected not by a bodyguard of loyalty, but one of uncertainty. He is not as much a prisoner of his party as Foot. Nor quite as distant from…
What are your holiday recommendations? Just two weeks from today at about this time we’ll be arriving at our holiday apartment over-looking the Gironde not too far from Bordeaux. I’m looking forward to this enormously if only because it will provide the opportunity to switch off totally from PB for the first time for seven years and do something I never seem to get the chance to do normally – read some books. High up on my list is the…