What do we think of Frank Luntz on Cameron-Brown?

What do we think of Frank Luntz on Cameron-Brown?

Is the US pollster right on the language that both men are adopting? This, I know, is getting into dangerous territory because two words that lead to the biggest explosions on PBC are “Frank” and “Luntz” – ever since the US pollster’s famous “focus group” screened on Newsnight during the Conservative Party conference in October 2005. In this week’s edition of the Spectator, out this morning, Luntz is the author of the cover feature on how both men use language…

Read More Read More

Has Blair come to terms with his departure yet?

Has Blair come to terms with his departure yet?

Is Hoggart right about the exit? A throwaway line at the end of this morning’s Commons sketch by Simon Hoggart in the Guardian has got me thinking about Tony Blair and when he will step down. For when asked at PMQs yesterday what he hoped to be remembered for Hoggart notes the “extraordinary” fact that Blair ..”didn’t have anything prepared… he hasn’t worked out what his own legacy is..I’ll believe he’s going when he goes.” Usually a good litmus test…

Read More Read More

Which candidate comes out worst from this?

Which candidate comes out worst from this?

What does this all mean for the Republican race? Lots of interesting polls coming out of the US at the moment on the 2008 White House race. For the latest check here. The above one, which came out a few days ago, is perhaps the most interesting in that it looks at negatives in a theoretical sense. For the Democrats the lack of negatives for a black or a female nominees looks encouraging. It’s the Republicans who have the biggest…

Read More Read More

Who’ll be goaded into losing his temper first?

Who’ll be goaded into losing his temper first?

Do both men share the same weakness – having low flash-points? Politics is going through an appalling period which must be equally frustrating for all the parties. For we know that barring a political earthquake the next election will be the Gordon and Dave show yet even the most experienced observers cannot predict confidently how this will pan out. This encounter has been on the cards since Cameron’s likely victory in the Tory race became apparent October 2005 and yet…

Read More Read More

Great polling moments – January 13 1995

Great polling moments – January 13 1995

On a day like today it is perhaps worth recalling one of the worst polls ever for the Tories – this the January 1995 survey for the Daily Telegraph by Gallup. This poll did not use past vote weighting to ensure a politically balanced sample. Just four days after the fieldwork for Gallup was completed ICM began their January 1995 poll for the Guardian. When the past vote weighting adjustments were made this came up with CON 30: LAB 48:…

Read More Read More

Has this been made to be as damaging as possible?

Has this been made to be as damaging as possible?

Will Labour MPs respond to the Guardian’s call for Brown to be challenged? This is the front page of the Guardian that will be screaming out across newstands throughout the UK this morning and it looks as though it has been designed deliberately to make it as damaging as possible for the Chancellor. For as any newspaper man or woman will tell you it is what appears “above the fold” that matters – and with the numbers 29-42 splashed there…

Read More Read More

ICM puts the Tories back at 40%

ICM puts the Tories back at 40%

..and the pollster reports a 13% lead if it’s Cameron vs Brown A huge boost for David Cameron’s Tories is reported to be in tomorrow’s ICM poll for the Guardian. According to CONHome the figures are with changes on last month CON 40 (+3): LAB 31 (nc): LD 19% (-4). This is only the third time that ICM has recorded a 40% share or more for the Tories in a decade and a half and the nine point margin puts…

Read More Read More

Some small site issues

Some small site issues

I’ve been trying to update a few things. Unfortunately, my meddling seems to have meant that Peter the Punter’s column is unavailable for comment! Hopefully everything else should be working fine, and normal service should soon be resumed. PLEASE USE THE LINK HERE FOR COMNMENTS ON PETER’S BRANDiNDEX PREDICTIONS