Will “Clarke’s golden legacy” now become centre stage?

Will “Clarke’s golden legacy” now become centre stage?

Is Ken tasked with “bursting the Brown bubble”? I was very taken by a comment from a ConHome contributor, Jono, that the real reason why Clarke has been brought back is not to handle Mandelson – but to challenge Brown. This was picked up by ChritstinaD. Jono writes “..There is one pillar of the whole, painstakingly constructed edifice of the Brown myth that has always been vulnerable and that is the role of Ken Clarke in creating what was sustainable…

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So our 6/4 shot is coming back

So our 6/4 shot is coming back

Has Cameron done the right thing? If BBC News has got this right and the story above is correct then Ken Clarke is about to return to the Shadow Cabinet and the first PB betting call of 2009 has come good. I’ve got a fair bit on at 6/4 and I hope others have too. The big question is how this is going to play politically and whether Cameron’s gamble is going to pay off. Clearly the leader needed a…

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Which bookie takes Zac’s bets?

Which bookie takes Zac’s bets?

Where did he get his amazing prices? The above story features in today’s Mail on Sunday and suggests that green campaigner and Tory candidate, Zac Goldsmith, won about £150,000 on Barack Obama for the White House. That’s great and many PBers also made big profits on the race. But where did he get the quoted prices and which bookies were ready to let him bet at levels which for us mere mortals are not possible. I had long bets on…

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Would Israel get more backing from the Tories?

Would Israel get more backing from the Tories?

How supporters divide on the Middle East Reproduced above is a snippet from today’s YouGov poll in the Sunday Times which I have clipped because it shows the different approaches that supporters of the three main parties are taking towards the current conflict in the Middle East. For when asked who should get the blame the overall result has 24% of British voters blaming Hamas with 18% saying Israel. The balance of the sample said “equally” or they “don’t know”….

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ComRes adds to Labour’s poll gloom

ComRes adds to Labour’s poll gloom

CONSERVATIVES 41% (+2) LABOUR 32% (-2) LIB DEMS 15% (-1) Is this a third body blow to Brown Central? The second poll of the night, the ComRes poll for tomorrow’s Indy on Sunday, has the Tories back into the low 40s and Labour down a couple of points on where they were in the last survey from the pollster before Christmas. This follows the YouGov poll reported just over an a hour ago on the previous thread that had the…

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Tories move to 13% lead with YouGov

Tories move to 13% lead with YouGov

CONSERVATIVES 45% (+4) LABOUR 32% (-2) LIB DEMS 14% (-1) Is Cameron moving back to landslide territory After the Populus poll earlier in the week that had the Tories back with a double digit lead over Labour the latest YouGov survey, for the Sunday Times, is reporting a four point shift to the party in a week and a half and a decline in the Labour share. This will be hugely disappointing for Labour who had thoughts that their “Do…

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Was Heathrow to counter Dave’s “dithering” charge?

Was Heathrow to counter Dave’s “dithering” charge?

What do we make of Polly Toynbee’s explanation? An interesting take on the reasons for the Heathrow 3rd runway decision is in Polly Toynbee’s new Saturday morning slot in the Guardian which has become my Saturday “first read” – with more political analysis and less polemic than her other platforms. (And before you pooh-pooh her the person who game me the tip in June 2007 that Harriet, then 9/1, was going to win the 2007 Deputy race tells me that…

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Rumpole and the John Lewis List

Rumpole and the John Lewis List

Who might have suggested this defence? There is nothing I like less than being rudely awakened. “Rumpole? I say, Rumpole? I’m coming in, so put on your trousers, there’s a good chap” It was ten after three, and my mind in twixtplace-slumber was turning to thoughts of a decent bottle of Chateau Thames Embankment and a bitter cheroot, when my door was rudely knocked and opened by my one-time pupil, part-time dilletante, and occasional imbibing-partner, Alistair. “What the devil is…

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