Two columnists in the Independent consider the long-running Brown saga, with John Rentoul declaring that Labour awaits “The Issue” to topple Gordon, while Alan Watkins in the above piece argues that “tomorrow never comes” for Labour MPs: “His colleagues, if they do it at all – if they get rid of the Prime Minister – will do it tomorrow. But tomorrow never comes. A hurdle is erected for Mr Brown to jump, or, at least, to scramble over somehow. He…
Are Kaine (left) and Pawlenty (right) on-track for the Vice-Presidency? “If Henman ever wants to win Wimbledon, he’ll have to change his name. Henman was the first person named Tim to achieve anything at all… The (name’s) association is with ‘timid’ and ‘timorous’ from the Latin ‘timere’: to fear … The real puzzle is that the Tims do as well as they do.” – Martin Amis (as found on InsideTennis) Amis was wrong in at least one respect – the…
Will Glasgow East see the first sign of an exodus? There has been much written already about the potential fortunes of the Labour Party in Glasgow East, and as remarkable as it seems, the 13,507 majority currently enjoyed by David Marshall was not even enough to prevent the SNP from being ‘bookies’ favourites’ when the markets first opened. The punters on the site, far more knowledgeable on the specifics of this constituency than I, have made me wonder how we…
Highlands and Islands: (7 seats) Scotland underwent changes to its Westminster constituencies between 2001 and 2005 when the number of seats was reduced from 72 to 59. Holyrood still operates on the pre 2005 boundaries but has 73 constituencies due to Orkney and Shetland being separated into 2 constituencies. Scotland has 32 single tier local authorities. I would expect the 4 main parties to go into the election with the following shares of vote in Scotland: SNP 30-35%, LAB 30-35%,…
What are the “other” contenders going to do to the Davis percentage? It’s only six days to go before Haltemprice and Howden – the by election where the former shadow home secretary, David Davis, is defending his seat made vacant by his resignation over the 42 day detention decision. With both Labour and the Lib Dems standing aside there’s an odd assortment of 25 others who will be on the ballot. It’s hard to see anything other than a big…
How much does this add to the problems of Darling and Brown? In terms of public interest the main story in the Times this morning will probably have less immediate impact on public opinion than last night’s news of the rejection by the commons of the proposals to deal with MPs’s expenses. But if the paper, which appears to have this as an exclusive, has this right then it will, surely, be another hammer blow to what used to be…
Is this a massive own-goal for those who voted for the status quo? If I was a PPC facing one of the 172 MPs who voted down the “John Lewis” list this evening I would work through the night tonight on a leaflet to hammer the incumbent so it can be delivered over the weekend. The MPs of all parties who opposed the changes were quite simply dumb and for their lack of political prowess and insensitivity alone they deserve…
Electoral-vote.com Is this the way to capitalise on Obama’s possible big victory? The above map is reproduced from the excellent Electoral-Vote.com which takes all the latest state polls and expresses them graphically on a map of the US. The solid blue states look set to go the Democratic; the solid red ones to the Republicans and the others are leaning in one direction or another or are exactly tied. It’s updated every day and my guess is that we will…