YouGov reports nine point Tory lead

YouGov reports nine point Tory lead

A new YouGov Poll for the Sunday Times tomorrow, according to the Press Association has some good news for the Tories. “…Questioned on their voting intentions, some 41% of those taking part said they would back the Tories (down two points on a similar poll last month), 32% Labour (down one) and 16% the Liberal Democrats (up two). The overall Conservative lead was down marginally from 10 points to nine compared to the last comparable poll.” The changes reported by…

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Guest slot: Roger’s guide to the 2008 Oscars

Guest slot: Roger’s guide to the 2008 Oscars

2008 Oscars. I’ve listed the nominations in the important categories and my tips for the winners. Those who know my political predictions might want to tread carefully! Best Actor. George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Johnny Depp, Tommy Lee-Jones, Viggo Mortensen. Stand out winner Daniel Day-Lewis. Best Supporting Actor. Casey Affleck, Javier Bardem, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Hal Holbrook, Tom Wilkinson. The bookies favourite and the safe bet is Javier Bardem in ‘No Country’. A modern Frankenstein! Casey Affleck has a tiny outside…

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Should Gord stop doing all the announcements?

Should Gord stop doing all the announcements?

Can he win the election as a one-man band? This morning the main news on the BBC politics page is yet another announcement from Gordon Brown – this time to give extra benefits to members of poor families who agree to return to work and sign up to skills training courses. Fine – but why isn’t the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham, allowed to lead on this? For Denham is one of the most effective…

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Sean Fear’s Friday slot

Sean Fear’s Friday slot

Could 1997 have Been Worse for the Conservatives On polling day in 1997, I asked my association agent what result we could expect in Hertsmere, where we were defending a majority of 18,000. I can remember my shock when he told me that he wasn’t sure we could hold it, but if we did, it would only be by a couple of thousand (in the end, the Conservative majority was 3,000). Even after polls had closed, I could not believe…

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What is the mystery over Ken’s congestion charge poll?

What is the mystery over Ken’s congestion charge poll?

Why has the British Polling Council decided to investigate? A week before Christmas, on December 18th, the above press release was issued by the GLA about a poll showing that 38% of Londoners “strongly supported” plans to increase the congestion charge to the most polluting cars with 21% opposing the scheme. In the normal course of events within two days the pollster, Ipsos-MORI, would have published full data from the survey on its website as part of the transparency arrangements…

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Are you ready to fly blind on Ken against Boris?

Are you ready to fly blind on Ken against Boris?

Can we rely on the views of just 240 people? With just eleven weeks to go before Britain’s biggest single mandate election which involves more than five million voters the main candidates are today taking part in the first hustings. The winner will occupy what is probably the most power political post in the country with far fewer constraints than almost any other politician in central or local government. If interest is anything like what we saw in 2000 and…

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Obama now plays the “inevitability” card?

Obama now plays the “inevitability” card?

“It’s impossible for Clinton to win enough pledged delegates“ After more than a year of watching Hillary positioning her “inevitable victory” as a key part of her effort to secure the Democratic Party nomination there has been a dramatic new claim from Team Obama. They are now saying that following Tuesday’s round of primaries it is now nigh on impossible for Clinton to come top in terms of pledged delegates where, they say, Barack enjoys a 136 person margin The…

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Ben Surtees on: March 4th – The Endgame?

Ben Surtees on: March 4th – The Endgame?

Guest slot on why it will all come down to Texas and Ohio… probably Super Tuesday’s “Split Decision” has raised the prospect of a protracted fight for the Democrat nomination, even a brokered convention. Certainly the failure of the early primaries to produce a presumptive nominee has senior democrats concerned and political pundits excited. However, despite this, it remains likely that a nominee will be decided long before the party’s convention, in Denver in late August. With six wins out…

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