As PR becomes centre stage – what about this?

As PR becomes centre stage – what about this?

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Rod Crosby on “The Holy Grail – PR-Squared?” All electoral systems have flaws. Some are philosophical, some are technical, some esoterical, some are merely anathema to one party or another on grounds of perceived electoral disadvantage. In the UK, objections to Proportional Representation have tended to revolve around the loss of the constituency link and the realisation that majority government would become a thing of the past. Recently however, the flaws of FPTP have been thrown into sharp relief. Aside…

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Could Dave be deprived after all?

Could Dave be deprived after all?

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“0944: Senior Lib Dem sources say Nick Clegg is prepared to negotiate seriously with Labour if Gordon Brown is prepared to step down quickly, says the BBC’s Iain Watson. As we speak, Schools Secretary Ed Balls, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and former Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell are all in Downing Street holding a meeting with Mr Brown.” BBC

So will it be PM Dave by tomorrow?

So will it be PM Dave by tomorrow?

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All the signs are that the Tory talks with the Lib Dems on a possible agreement following the election are coming to a resolution with a meeting of the new Conservative parliamentary party this evening being one of the final hurdles. It’s hard to see Tory MPs, more than half of whom are new, not backing Cameron though it might not be as smooth a ride as the leadership would have hoped. The prospect of power, even if that is…

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Indian pollster wins the 2010 polling race

Indian pollster wins the 2010 polling race

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Pollster CON LAB LD Error RNB India: phone 37 (+0.1) 28 (-1.7) 26 (+2.4) 4.2 ICM phone/past vote weighted 36 (-0.9) 28 (-1.7) 26 (+2.4) 5 Populus: phone/past vote weighted 37 (+0.1) 28 (-1.7) 27 (+3.4) 5.2 Ipsos-MORI: phone 36 (-0.9) 29 (-0.7) 27 (+3.4) 5 Harris: Online 35 (-1.9) 29 (-0.7) 27 (+3.4) 6 ComRes: phone/past vote weighted 37 (+0.1) 28 (-1.7) 28 (+4.4) 6.2 Opinium: online 35 (-1.9) 27 (-2.7) 26 (+2.4) 7 YouGov: online 35 (-1.9) 28…

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How close is Clegg to joining the government?

How close is Clegg to joining the government?

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As the secret talk between the LDs and the Tories continue it’s not far-fetched to suggest that Nick Clegg could be a cabinet minister this time tomorrow night. If indeed a deal has been done then we are entering a completely new period in UK politics which has risks for all the three party leaders. What I’ve found striking is the support that Clegg seems to be getting from Paddy Ashdown who still has a massive influence within the party….

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Why’s Brown heading back to London?

Why’s Brown heading back to London?

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Is he preparing for an early visit to the palace? Lots of things are going on behind the scenes but it is interesting, surely, that Gordon and Sarah are on their way back to London from Scotland after only flying there yesterday. Could it be that something is in the offing? Mike Smithson

Are the LibServatives going to happen?

Are the LibServatives going to happen?

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Or is it too big a step for their parties to swallow? What a day Saturday was and, no doubt, it will continue throughout Sunday. Are the leaderships of both the Tories and Lib Dem going to be able to sell a deal to their parties that appears to run so much against the grain of both? For the very notion of a blue-yellow “common plan” as is it is now being called seems so alien to many in the…

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