Joe Biden’s VP pick – the case for 40/1 Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth

Joe Biden’s VP pick – the case for 40/1 Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth

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This weekend the junior senator for Illinois, Tammy Duckworth, is due to have a meeting with presumptive nominee, Joe Biden, about the possibility of her being on the ticket in November. What is striking about Duckworth is her extraordinary backstory and the way she’s triumphed over some terrible injuries incurred while serving in the US armed forces. Back in 2004 she was a helicopter pilot in Iraq which got attacked the result of which left her having to have both…

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Why Starmer is unlikely to be the next PM

Why Starmer is unlikely to be the next PM

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CON MPs will replace their leader if they feel Johnson’s shine has gone For the moment, Boris Johnson walks on water in terms of popularity. He enjoys positive approval ratings, his party sits on opinion poll leads of around 20% and is hoovering up about half the vote. All of which is likely to count for very little in a year’s time, never mind three. It goes without saying that these are abnormal times and that we should therefore treat…

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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.