Is this how the crisis gets linked to Number 10?

Is this how the crisis gets linked to Number 10?

How much was a key Brown advisor behind the HBOS fall? The appearance before the commons committee of the bank bosses and the story of the whistle-blower who tried to warn of the dangers of HBOS’s strategy get wide coverage this morning but it’s only really the Times and the Independent that highlight the political dangers to the government. For until now the main charge against the PM was that he was Chancellor during a critical decade when many of…

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Populus: the inter-party dynamics

Populus: the inter-party dynamics

Some numbers behind the headline figures The chart is taken from the detailed data in today’s Populus Poll for the Times and shows current voting intentions linked to what respondents said they did at the 2005 General Election. It focuses solely on those who voted last time – a segment that, surely, must be more likely to vote at the next general election than those, who for whatever reason, were non-voters. The Tories are retaining 97% of their 2005 vote…

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Is there any way back for Brown or Labour?

Is there any way back for Brown or Labour?

UKPollingReport Could the tide turn yet again? One of the lessons that we have learned in the past two years is that the most dangerous assumption you can make is that things will go on as they are. After what, with the benefit of hindsight, was a temporary blip in late November and December all the polls have turned and all are suggesting that Gordon Brown will lead Labour to defeat at the general election – now a maximum of…

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Labour drop into the 20s with Populus

Labour drop into the 20s with Populus

CONSERVATIVES 42% (-1) LABOUR 28% (-5) LIB DEMS 18% (+3) ..and the LDs get a 3 point boost The Populus survey for tomorrow’s Times will be published officially in a few minutes but I’ve just been given the tip off about the numbers from a normally reliable source. [The figures have now been confirmed – see the Times story here] So Populus becomes the third pollster to be showing Labour back in the 20s – further evidence that the Brown…

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Should Gord be more than “very angry” about bonuses?

Should Gord be more than “very angry” about bonuses?

Has he let Cameron in with an opening? One of the features of depression-hit recession-hit Britain is that anybody who is thought to be getting away with it financially, particularly if it’s with taxpayer’s money, is vulnerable to attack. Jacqui Smith and her housing allowance was in the firing line yesterday and that story continues to rumble today. Now the focus is on the bank bosses – especially the bonuses at RBS where billions of pounds of taxpayers money has…

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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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