Is this the polling that should shape party strategies?

Is this the polling that should shape party strategies?

Populus September 2008 What should we conclude from these numbers? The above poll questions on voter motivations are ones that are often included in the parties’ own private surveys but you don’t often see them in published polls. As far as I can see the last time the findings appeared was in the September 2008 Populus poll for the Times and my understanding is that more up-to-date private research suggests that the broad picture has not changed much. The big…

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Will Gord listen to Alan’s smart attack strategy?

Will Gord listen to Alan’s smart attack strategy?

Has Johnson found the way to deal with Dave? Gordon Brown has many qualities but one that is never ascribed to him is being “a good listener”. so I wonder what he’ll make of his health secretary’s comments during the weekend on the way Labour should deal with the Tory leader. For ever since David Cameron was elected leader of the Conservative in December 2005 the party has floundered as its tried to work out a way of dealing with…

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“Four To Follow” for 2009 – Part 1

“Four To Follow” for 2009 – Part 1

Wikipedia International leaders to keep an eye on as the year unfolds As all fans of flat or National Hunt racing will know, the “Ten To Follow” is an integral part of the beginning of any season. A selection of horses that are worth keeping an eye on over the new season and that are thought likely to progress is presented for the perusal of the reader. Closer to home, the Politicalbetting Ten To Follow is run by Peter the…

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Is the Home Secretary toast?

Is the Home Secretary toast?

Or does she have nothing to lose by staying on? The newspapers have broken a story that Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, has been claiming £500 allowances for living at a house belonging to her sister. The Mail on Sunday claims that she has received £116,000 in allowances whilst lodging at her sister’s house. This is in addition to the taxpayer-funded security, which the paper estimates as costing around £200,000 per annum. The Home Secretary’s Special Advisor claims that this…

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LDs soar to 22% in new ICM poll

LDs soar to 22% in new ICM poll

CONSERVATIVES 40% (-4) LABOUR 28% (-4) LIB DEMS 22% (+6) …and Labour is back in the 20s again There’s a new ICM poll in the Sunday Telegraph tomorrow with quite dramatic changes on the last surrvey from the pollster nearly a fortnight ago. The big boost is to the Lib Dem total – up 6% at 22% which is only a fraction off what the party, then led by Charles Kennedy, got at the 2005 general election. Generally ICM, which…

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Would a Shadow Cabinet have helped?

Would a Shadow Cabinet have helped?

How bold can you be in your first 100 days? For those of us who admired how tight and disciplined the Obama campaign was for its duration, it is mystifying how lax the vetting appears to have been around Cabinet nominations. First Bill Richardson was forced to withdraw, allowing Republican Senator Judd Gregg (NH) to take the position at Commerce. They survived the tremors around new Treasury Secretary Geithner’s tax returns, but the same problem of suddenly-discovered tax liabilities has…

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What’s Sarkozy done to Gord’s core argument?

What’s Sarkozy done to Gord’s core argument?

Guardian.co.uk Can he go on boasting that the world’s following Britain? For the past five months a key element in the government’s economic crisis rhetoric has been that its approach has been followed or matched by the rest of the world. This line has been used, with some effect, time and time again to batter the Tories in general and isolate David Cameron in particular. It’s become a feature of almost every PMQs. So its not surprising that the Number…

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Are these the best consituency bets?

Are these the best consituency bets?

Peter the Punter looks at the Individual Seat Markets In its never-ending quest to find you a bit of value, PB has commissioned at enormous expense some of the finest minds amongst its contributors to see what can be found amongst the markets put up by Ladbrokes, Hills and, most recently, Sky on a number of individual seats at the next General Election. There is no doubt that Ladbrokes have led the way on this. Their politics expert, none other…

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