How referendums can add to the democratic process

How referendums can add to the democratic process

Comments 292 Comments

Principles for calling referendums This thread header is a response to Mr Meeks’ thread of 6 November, in which he wrote, “we can at least set out some principles for calling referendums.”  It does not ask whether referendums are desirable (though I believe they are). Instead, I look at how the UK political system should accommodate more direct democracy in the future. International experience An excellent study by UCL in 2017 noted 550 nationwide referendums in 43 stable democracies between…

Read More Read More

So the Deal’s going down. Then what?

So the Deal’s going down. Then what?

Comments 2 Comments

    May’s numbers don’t add up for now. Is the threat of No Deal enough to change minds? You have to salute her indefatigability. Despite the Prime Minister being just about the only MP prepared to champion the government’s Brexit Deal, despite the loss of another two cabinet ministers, plus various other more junior ones, despite the letters of No Confidence openly going in to the Chairman of the 1922, despite the three hours of parliamentary pummelling she took…

Read More Read More

At one point this morning punters made it a 55% chance that TMay would be out this year

At one point this morning punters made it a 55% chance that TMay would be out this year

Comments 344 Comments

That’s now dropped sharply When you get dramatic political days like today it is interesting for gamblers to look back and see how betting prices have moved as events have unfolded.  The chart above shows the last 24 hours on the “which year will Mrs May leave” betting market on Betfair. The odds are shown as percentages. As can be seen this morning from about 0900 the money started piling on Mrs May going before the end of the year…

Read More Read More

Mad Tory Friday part 2…..

Mad Tory Friday part 2…..

Comments 2 Comments

2pm update: here are the MPs who have admitted sending letters to Graham Brady pic.twitter.com/go6jDLvB3s — Henry Zeffman (@hzeffman) November 16, 2018 Our second edition ?@EveningStandard?: Tory rebels claim they have the numbers to force a confidence motion – but do they? pic.twitter.com/MVApRNRYQR — George Osborne (@George_Osborne) November 16, 2018 Unless I misheard, Steve Baker just said on Sky the Brexiteers would "draw lots" to decide who their leadership candidate is. Draw lots. To determine the Prime Minister. This is…

Read More Read More

Moggsy’s TM confidence vote gamble could rebound into a confidence vote on himself

Moggsy’s TM confidence vote gamble could rebound into a confidence vote on himself

Comments 866 Comments

He’ll look weak if not enough fellow CON MPs follow Yesterday the old Etonian father of six, Jacob Rees-Mogg, took a massive gamble when he had an impromptu press conference outside the palace of Westminster in which he declared his lack of confidence in the state-school educated Mrs May. He announced that he had sent a letter calling for a confidence vote and it looked as though the other 47 letters needed were either there or would be arriving quickly….

Read More Read More

A massive Westminster day ends with TMay still in place

A massive Westminster day ends with TMay still in place

Comments 1 Comment

The “bloody difficult woman” will be difficult to shift Although I disagree with her on so many things you can but admire the way she is holding on and battling forward in spite of all the obstacles and setbacks. This was always going to be a very difficult period for the Prime Minister who took over shortly after the referendum in July 2016 never more so than today. Throughout she has made as her objective ensuring that the referendum outcome…

Read More Read More

If TMay survives a confidence vote she’d be immune from another challenge for a year

If TMay survives a confidence vote she’d be immune from another challenge for a year

Comments 1 Comment

After an extraordinary 24hrs at Westminster in which a total, as I write, of six ministers having resigned all the talk now is that Theresa May could soon be facing a confidence vote. For this to happen it requires 48 different CON MPs to write to the chairman of the 1922 committee, Graham Brady, asking for such a move to take place. Jacob Rees-Mogg has announced that he has sent a letter in and has indicated that he might support…

Read More Read More

Raab’s resignation sparks off huge movements on the TMay exit, next GE date & next CON leader betting markets

Raab’s resignation sparks off huge movements on the TMay exit, next GE date & next CON leader betting markets

Comments 1 Comment

Punters expect TMay to go this year Raab becomes the new CON leader favourite And 2019 the year for the next general eletion The prices are based on the Betfair exchange and the charts are from Betdata.io. Mike Smithson Follow @MSmithsonPB Tweet