Will Paterson be the trigger for the Tories to lose their poll lead?

Will Paterson be the trigger for the Tories to lose their poll lead?

As we all know the Tories have, except for just two polls, been ahead in every survey since the spring when the so-called vaccination bounce was happening. Could all that come to an end following BoJo’s decision to thwart action against what seems to be a clear case of paid for lobbying? A lot depends on how this is reported by the media and no doubt there is nervousness about how the national papers will treat it. We do have…

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CON MP and PBer, Aaron Bell, doesn’t back Bojo on Paterson

CON MP and PBer, Aaron Bell, doesn’t back Bojo on Paterson

The hugely controversial move by Johnson to overthrow an independent inquiry that found ex-cabinet minister Owen Paterson committed an “egregious” breach of lobbying rules has been passed by MPs. Paterson had faced a 30 day suspension which could have opened the door to a recall petition. This is dominating the domestic news this evening and Deputy LAB leader, Angela Raymer, earlier had what was a clear PMQs victory when standing in for Starmer. The Indy’s John Rentoul noted that this was one…

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Protecting Paterson – the Tory gift to the Opposition

Protecting Paterson – the Tory gift to the Opposition

Backing Paterson doesn’t look smart Nothing illustrates the feeling of confidence amongst BoJo’s Tories than their efforts to protect Owen Paterson. That ministers should even contemplate anything other than let the agreed process go forwards opens the party up to the allegations of “sleaze” which those of us who are old enough to remember were what created the political climate that saw Blair win his landslide victory at GE1997. All the party is seeking to do is get round the…

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Trump’s big WH2020 lie could threaten democracy itself

Trump’s big WH2020 lie could threaten democracy itself

The above NBC polling has just come out and raises the worry even more that Trump’s refusal to accept last November’s outcome could have a long lasting impact on confidence in the democratic process itself. Elected politicians get their authority from the fact that they have been elected and if that comes into doubt then very dangerous territory is being entered. We all know the story and we saw on January 6th how dangerous the big lie is. Even though…

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Burnham is overrated as the 22% favourite to succeed Starmer

Burnham is overrated as the 22% favourite to succeed Starmer

I have made this point before but I will make it again that punters are over-rating Andy Burnham’s chances of becoming the next Labour leader. In my view he is favourite in the betting almost solely on the basis that he has higher name recognition and he has competed for the job twice before. What people seem to be forgetting is how poorly Burnham performed when he first ran for the post in the aftermath of the party”s GE2015 defeat…

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Climate change: The huge opinion gap in the US

Climate change: The huge opinion gap in the US

As the world’s focus moves to the Glasgow climate change conference YouGov US has published the above polling which I find quite shocking. The figures for college graduates show the huge gulf that exists with just 21% of Republican ones agreeing with the statement compared with 95% of Democrat college grads. The detail of the polling offered three options and I have chosen the above one to illustrate best the great divide. Maybe the approach of GOP voters is a…

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