So far Boris’s leader ratings are holding up well – but that could start to change

So far Boris’s leader ratings are holding up well – but that could start to change

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The Wikipedia chart above shows all the leader ratings for the Prime Minister since the start of the year. As can be seen he has been doing pretty well during the pandemic with some very impressive figures. He’s had big positives throughout. The latest polling though, is all bit old and there has been nothing yet since Boris’s much hyped big address to the nation last Sunday evening. Things have been harder for him in the past few days. Whether…

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Joe Biden’s VP pick – the case for Amy Klobuchar

Joe Biden’s VP pick – the case for Amy Klobuchar

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On Saturday we launched a series of posts on the various possibilities for Joe Biden as he ponders on who to choose for the VP slot on the ticket for WH2020. The second favourite in the betting is the Minnesota Senator, Amy Klobuchar, who pulled out of her White House bid to back Biden just before Super Tuesday. On Betfair Klobuchar is rated as a 22% chance and is in the second favourite slot for the VP nomination. There’s been…

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Tonight in the PB Nighthawks cafe as things edge back ever so slowly to normality with real cafes now able to sell coffee

Tonight in the PB Nighthawks cafe as things edge back ever so slowly to normality with real cafes now able to sell coffee

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For me the big new of the day is that a local riverside cafe has opened for takeaway sales of coffee and I’m looking forward to joining the socially distanced queue in the morning. You can’t sit down, of course, but there are plenty of park benches nearby. This is one step back to normality. Meanwhile there’s a good New York Times podcast which focuses on Britain’s individual approach to dealing with the crisis called “Boris Johnson’s change of heart”….

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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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