Does Ed Balls have problems arguing with women?

Does Ed Balls have problems arguing with women?

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Why the strange reticence? The publication of the economic figures yesterday gave us our first chance to see how the protagonists for the government and opposition would perform – and as I observed in an article yesterday I thought that Osborne was poor. But what about Ed Balls – Labour’s new economic spokesman of whom great things are expected by the red team. How did he do? Would his sharp brain and normal combative approach see him through? The answer…

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The Lib Dems move to 15 percent with ICM

The Lib Dems move to 15 percent with ICM

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Poll/publication End date CON (%) LAB (%) LD (%) ICM Guardian 23/01/11 35 39 15 ICM Guardian 19/12/10 37 39 13 ICM Guardian 21/11/10 36 38 14 ICM/Guardian 24/10/10 39 36 16 ICM/NOTW 22/10/10 40 36 16 ICM/Sunday Telegraph 07/10/10 38 34 18 ICM/Guardian 29/09/10 35 37 18 ICM/Guardian 15/08/10 37 37 18 ICM/Guardian 25/07/10 38 34 19 ICM/Sunday Telegraph 24/06/10 41 35 16 ICM/Guardian 20/06/10 39 31 21 ICM/Guardian 23/05/10 39 32 21 ICM/Sunday Telegraph 13/05/10 38 33 21…

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Has “the weather” become Osborne’s “It started in America”?

Has “the weather” become Osborne’s “It started in America”?

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BBC News Does he need a more sophisticated response? We all remember how Gordon Brown and others responded in the final days of the last government whenever issues over the economy were raised. “It all started in America” we were told time and time again to the extent that it became a bit of a joke. I just wonder whether George Osborne is making a similar error with his response to the latest growth numbers showing a decline in Q4…

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What will the phone pollsters be saying?

What will the phone pollsters be saying?

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Poll/publication Date CON % LAB % LD % ICM/Guardian 23/01/11       Populus/Times 24/10/10       Ipsos-MORI/Reuters 12/12/10 ComRes/Independent 14/01/11 36 40 10 YouGov/Sun 24/01/11 37 42 11 Angus Reid 06/01/11 35 40 12 ***PAPA*** LATEST 36.0 40.7 11.0 ICM and MORI expected today One of the things that’s to be most regretted about current UK political polling has been the dramatic decline in the number of telephone surveys coming out. The political world is so dominated by…

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Does it matter if it’s called “The Conservative-led” coalition?

Does it matter if it’s called “The Conservative-led” coalition?

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Should the media acquiesce to Baldwin’s call? James Forsyth at the Speccie Coffee House blog takes up the ongoing argument over whether the term “Conservative-led” rather than “coalition” should be used to describe the government. Labour is keen for its purposes for the former to be used and broadcasters and other media outlets have been written to by EdM press chief, Tom Baldwin, suggesting that they do the same. Channel 4 has become the first to agree. But doesn’t this…

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Henry G asks: What price a 2011 election?

Henry G asks: What price a 2011 election?

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Is it time to revisit Tom Watson’s source? Although Westminster was surprised that Andy Coulson resigned when he did, it had to a large extent been foretold. Tom Watson was only a few days out in his remarkable prediction earlier this month when Coulson would go. After last week’s dramatic events Watson’s article more than merits a re-read. Watson’s source also believes Conservative preparations are already underway for a May general election. The Midlands MP acknowledges that Labour would be…

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At last we have it – the George and Ed show?

At last we have it – the George and Ed show?

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Who’ll prevail – the strategist or the tactician? It’s been a long time in the making but the George and Ed Show is finally under way. It should have started, of course, in Gordon Brown’s post-EU election re-shuffle in June 2009. Balls was offered the job and was so certain he was moving he had a leaving party at his old department. The incumbent at the Treasury, Alistair Darling, however, refused to budge and a weakened Brown could not force…

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Is this the age of the SPADs?

Is this the age of the SPADs?

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Jonathan’s Sunday Slot The surprise departure of Alan Johnson this week marked a significant milestone for British politics. A new generation of professional politicians, the ex Special Advisers (SpAds), are now in complete command of politics in this country. Is this a change for the better? Will we benefit from having people who understand Westminster and Whitehall in charge? Or are there risks? Can a clique, with negligible outside experience, run the country? Labour is led by ex-special advisers. In…

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