Next month it’ll be the 50th anniversary of GE1970 – the ONLY election in modern times when a party with a working majority lost to another with a working majority

Next month it’ll be the 50th anniversary of GE1970 – the ONLY election in modern times when a party with a working majority lost to another with a working majority

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Next month we will see the 50th anniversary of the most extraordinary general election of modern times – 1970 when Edward Heath led the Tories to victory. His party came to power with a working majority beating Harold Wilson Labour which also had a working majority. For there to be a change of government in such circumstances was actually quite unique. For at no other election in modern times has a party with a working majority taken over from another…

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Why it could be politically challenging prioritising the economy over people’s health

Why it could be politically challenging prioritising the economy over people’s health

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New Ipsos MORI poll finds little change during the lockdown By far the biggest decision ministers will have to take over the coronavirus pandemic is when to ease the restrictions in order to to boost the economy once again. This is becoming increasingly urgent because of the sheer cost of so many being placed effectively on the government payroll The message coming from government suggests that ministers are becoming more more eager to start to close down some of the…

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Time for the PB Nighthawks Cafe where the political conversation can continue

Time for the PB Nighthawks Cafe where the political conversation can continue

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As ever at the moment politics are dominated by the continuing crisis and, of course, as its a Wednesday night time to reflect on the day’s PMQs. What is clear that Boris is facing a much more formidable opposition leader than Corbyn and he’s yet to get his measure. The PM’s position is not helped by the UK coronavirus comparisons with other nations. Have a good night.

For decades the standard Tory election PlayBook has been to demonise whoever the LAB leader is. How will they do that with Starmer?

For decades the standard Tory election PlayBook has been to demonise whoever the LAB leader is. How will they do that with Starmer?

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The former DPP presents a bigger challenge In just about every general election in recent times a key Tory approach has been to demonise the the Labour leader in order to frighten voters not to vote for the party. That big broad approach more than anything was why Johnson won a clear majority last December. Just go back to the way Michael Foot was portrayed at GE1983, Kinnock at GE1987 and GE1992 and more recently Brown at GE2010 and EdM…

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Starmer overtakes Johnson in latest YouGov leader ratings

Starmer overtakes Johnson in latest YouGov leader ratings

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Even though he’s only been LAB leader for just five and a half weeks the latest YouGov “well/badly” ratings have Starmer edging ahead of Johnson. The Standard reports: A YouGov survey carried out over the weekend found that 40 per cent of Brits believe the Labour leader is doing either “fairly well” or “very well” and 17 per cent think he is performing “fairly badly” or “very badly”. The Prime Minister is more divisive – 57 per cent think he is doing “fairly well” or “very…

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If this trend goes on Johnson’s CON government will soon have a net negative approval rating

If this trend goes on Johnson’s CON government will soon have a net negative approval rating

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Ministers struggling to maintain public support The above chart is based on the weekly YouGov polling in which those sampled are asked to state whether they approve or disapprove of the government. As can be seen at the start of the lockout there was considerable backing for what Johnson had done and the policies that were being pursued. This has now moved from a net 26% to 7% in the latest survey in seven weeks. It looks as though that…

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Saving lives and protecting the NHS

Saving lives and protecting the NHS

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In Lord Denning’s 1980 judgement preventing the Birmingham Six from suing the police for injuries while in custody, he stated:  “Just consider………if their action were to proceed to trial………If they won, it would mean that the police were guilty of perjury; that they were guilty of violence and threats; that the confessions were involuntary and improperly admitted in evidence; and that the convictions were erroneous…….That was such an appalling vista that every sensible person would say, ‘It cannot be right that…

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