I now have huge doubts about the political judgment of Philip Hammond

I now have huge doubts about the political judgment of Philip Hammond

EXC: In small hours of election morning Phil Hammond texted Boris to say he would back him for leader — Tim Shipman (@ShippersUnbound) September 23, 2017 Hammond said he would back Boris to run a triumvirate with himself and David Davis to replace Theresa May on election night — Tim Shipman (@ShippersUnbound) September 23, 2017 Hammond leadership plan to replace May: he would run economy, DD would run Brexit, Boris would "run the shop" as front man. See Sunday Times…

Read More Read More

How the 2017 general election result would have looked under different voting systems

How the 2017 general election result would have looked under different voting systems

If Jeremy Corbyn does become Prime Minister I expect electoral reform, as part of wider constitutional reform, will happen, without the need of plebiscites on the matter. Whilst Labour leaders do say in opposition they favour electoral reform but then ignore it when they are elected, like a brilliant thought during an orgasm, it gets lost in the ecstasy of ‘victory’. I think Corbyn will not do a Blair on the topic of electoral reform. The chart above, from the…

Read More Read More

Deadline 2021: the clock might (or might not) be reset but it is still ticking

Deadline 2021: the clock might (or might not) be reset but it is still ticking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Cx_1HAf6k May’s Brexit concessions still deliberately risk a Crash Brexit So now we know what the longest cabinet meeting of the century achieved: everyone united around the proposition that if there’s a row to be had, it can wait. That’s as true of internal cabinet divisions as it is of the main UK-EU negotiations. At some point the crunch will come – but not yet. It was always extremely likely that the UK would ask for some form of transitional…

Read More Read More

The reaction to Theresa May’s Florence speech – as we are set to effectively remain in the EU until 2021

The reaction to Theresa May’s Florence speech – as we are set to effectively remain in the EU until 2021

Summary – We will pay an unspecified amount for a two year transition period and bespoke trade deal. — Jason Farrell (@JasonFarrellSky) September 22, 2017 Not clear that TM will have blown away the stumbling blocks with this speech. Overall tone is appeal to EU Leaders to see UK as a partner — Jason Farrell (@JasonFarrellSky) September 22, 2017 Four months ago May was outside No 10 accusing the EU of rigging our election. How times have changed… — Ben…

Read More Read More

The Political Betting Local By-Election Conference Bounce Index : Week One

The Political Betting Local By-Election Conference Bounce Index : Week One

Over the next few weeks the major parties will be holding their party conferences and just as in every other week there are local by-elections all over the country, therefore for the duration of this Parliament we will be keeping track of how the parties do in the week of their party conferences. This week the Liberal Democrats met in Bournemouth and there were three local by-elections in Chesterfield, Oadby and Wigston and Waveney, so let’s see how they did…

Read More Read More

The war without end

The war without end

Picture: Not the last Tory PM to have their premiership destroyed by Europe Can Mrs May’s speech today accomplish what every Tory PM has failed to achieve in the last 40 years and finally unite the Tory party over Europe? I was born a few months before Margaret Thatcher became PM, which will make me forty next year, in that time frame every Tory Prime Minister has had their premiership either ended or destroyed by European Community/Union affairs, and it…

Read More Read More

Tonight’s by election previews

Tonight’s by election previews

Three council by elections tonight: one Conservative defence and two Labour.@andrewteale's previews: https://t.co/reCxOxpPMB — Britain Elects (@BritainElects) September 21, 2017 TSE