TMay’s plan to enshrine the Brexit date in law looks set to fail

TMay’s plan to enshrine the Brexit date in law looks set to fail

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The big Brexit bill showdown at Westminster looks set to be TMay’s plan to enshrine the precise date and time of the exit in the Bill that’s going through Parliament at the moment. The Times is reporting that there was a stormy meeting with rebel Tory MPs earlier in the week and that this might have to be toned down even though perhaps 7 Labour MPs could back it. Those against say it would tie the Government’s hand in negotiations….

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New “media trust” polling finds the BBC top and the Sun bottom

New “media trust” polling finds the BBC top and the Sun bottom

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I’m sure people will correct meif I’m wrong but I think this polling is a first. We see from time to time several different forms of “trust” polling but as far as I can recall these latest findings from Ipsos MORI covering broadcast, the press and the internet is new. For those who follow politics closely the close relationship between media and politicians is something that is raised all the time especially the way the former can have a huge…

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So far so good. We might just get to the end of the week without a Cabinet exit

So far so good. We might just get to the end of the week without a Cabinet exit

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PaddyPower This is unlike each of the previous two weeks As BBC Radio 4’s the Now Show has observed TMay’s Cabinet had begun to look like Strictly with a much publicised departure in the previous two weeks. Well so far this week, and I know it is only Thursday, it looks as though TMay’s cabinet will remain intact. Her deputy and long-standing friend from her Oxford days, Damien Green, hangs on and my guess is that TMay will fight tooth…

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NEW PB/Polling Matters podcast: Why aren’t the polls moving?

NEW PB/Polling Matters podcast: Why aren’t the polls moving?

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The PB / Polling Matters podcast returns! Keiran is joined by Leo Barasi and Matt Singh to discuss the latest developments in Westminster (and beyond) and what the numbers tell us about what is going on. On this week’s show the team discuss why the polls are not moving despite the government’s struggles, what the public really think about Brexit and whether the Democrats might be on course to take Alabama in the upcoming U.S. Senate race. Follow this week’s…

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The Telegraph front page that has been making the political weather all day

The Telegraph front page that has been making the political weather all day

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MP Anna Soubry receives threatening tweets after being branded 'Brexit mutineer https://t.co/HmJj6rnbTT — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) November 15, 2017 PB’s David Herdson hit the nail on the head Is this the same Daily Telegraph that's headquartered in Jersey (not in the UK) and owned by tax exiles? https://t.co/ExyEVugKMP — David Herdson (@DavidHerdson) November 15, 2017

Marf on the dramatic events in Harare

Marf on the dramatic events in Harare

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A coup or not a coup? Dr Julia Gallagher, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Royal Holloway, University of London, said: “This has all the hallmarks of a military coup. It looks like this is direct consequence of President Mugabe’s sacking of his Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week. Mnangagwa is an unpopular figure, widely associated with brutal repressions in Matabeland in the 1980s, and with election violence more recently. However, he is supported by Zimbabwe’s military, who…

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Now it’s being established that Russia did interfere with EURef what next?

Now it’s being established that Russia did interfere with EURef what next?

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Big Times story on the huge Russian social media effort to influence the Brexit referendumhttps://t.co/NE7FwmPvhh pic.twitter.com/REdGjjRgOZ — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) November 15, 2017 At some stage it might be argued that this undermines the validity of the result In the US the objective of those trying to examine the Russian impact on their Presidential election a year ago is clear – to undermine and possibly get rid of Trump. Whether they succeed or not will be dominate the political narrative…

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Blow for Farage after he loses libel case against anti race hate group

Blow for Farage after he loses libel case against anti race hate group

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Ex-UKIP leader and QuestionTime regular, Nigel Farage just lost £100k libel legal battle after calling anti racist group 'violent' https://t.co/2m5HopfWMb — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) November 14, 2017 But the former UKIP boss denies that he lost even though he withdrew the comments The political legal story today is Nigel Farage agreeing to withdraw offensive comments about anti-racist group Hope not Hate. The action had been brought against him following an appeal for funds which saw 16,000 people make donations. In…

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