Local By-Elections on Local Election Day 2017 (T- 35 days and counting until GE 2017)

Local By-Elections on Local Election Day 2017 (T- 35 days and counting until GE 2017)

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Today, as well as the elections to the English counties, Scottish councils, Welsh councils (of which I am currently dozing in order to be bright eyed and bushy tailed at anything up to 4.00am tomorrow morning) and the new Metro Mayor elections (not forgetting Doncaster of course), there are 107 local by-elections up and down the country in those areas which do not have any local elections. Now clearly 107 is way too many for a single preview so here…

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Tonight’s battle grounds – the seats that are being defended

Tonight’s battle grounds – the seats that are being defended

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There is a whole series of different sets of elections taking place today and the chart focuses on English council seats which were last fought in 2013. Mostly the seats being contested are in the old shire counties so this is not fertile territory for Labour in any circumstances period as can be seen. The Tories completely dominated last time these were fought. 2013 was the third year of the coalition waspretty bad year for the Lib Dems. It was…

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We can learn a lot about TMay’s negotiating style from this chain of events when she was Home Secretary

We can learn a lot about TMay’s negotiating style from this chain of events when she was Home Secretary

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2. Once upon a time Theresa was Home Secretary. One day she had to deal with a request from Jordan for Abu's deportation. — David Allen Green (@davidallengreen) May 4, 2017 3. She was not the first Home Secretary to have to deal with this request. But there was a problem. — David Allen Green (@davidallengreen) May 4, 2017 5. And if so, it was not lawfully open to the UK under ECHR to deport anybody if there was prospect…

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Marine Le Pen goes into the final 2 days behind in every French region except the one most favoured by Brit migrants

Marine Le Pen goes into the final 2 days behind in every French region except the one most favoured by Brit migrants

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The polls gave Macron the final TV debate by a huge margin Although it is polling day in parts of the UK the election that’s attracting the most bets (£25m matched so far on Betfair) is the final round for the French Presidency. Last night we had a marathon but engrossing TV debate between the woman the French courts ruled could be described as a fascist and the 39 year old ex-investment banker who is not linked to any of…

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NEW PB/Polling Matters podcast: Firing the starting gun, Brexit rows & where is the LD surge?

NEW PB/Polling Matters podcast: Firing the starting gun, Brexit rows & where is the LD surge?

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On this week’s podcast, Keiran is joined by Adam Drummond of Opinium and Adam Payne of Business Insider UK to discuss the political state of play as the General Election campaign proper kicks off. The panel mull over the latest developments in the campaign, including Theresa May’s comments about EU interference in British democracy and Tim Farron’s recent run-in with a Leave voter on the stump. Topics discussed also include the lack of a Lib Dem surge in the opinion…

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TMay’s over-blown anti-Brussels rhetoric might boost her support but there’s a danger it might not

TMay’s over-blown anti-Brussels rhetoric might boost her support but there’s a danger it might not

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Theresa May accuses EU of meddling in UK general election https://t.co/x1MgS5b3TD — The Guardian (@guardian) May 3, 2017 Does anyone seriously believe the EU are thinking, "Leak a bit of gossip to a German paper, Corbyn landslide. After all, it's a tight race" — Michael Deacon (@MichaelPDeacon) May 3, 2017 But the timing’s good – the day before tomorrow’s elections It is very hard to come to a conclusion about TMay’s extraordinary speech in Downing Street after visiting the Queen….

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Day 2 of Osbo’s new job and he’s not being helpful to the woman who sacked him

Day 2 of Osbo’s new job and he’s not being helpful to the woman who sacked him

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Although its now a freebie with a circulation confined to the capital the London Evening Standard is hugely influential in shaping the news narrative – what other parts of the mainstream media come to decide is important. At the moment all eyes are on the paper because of its new editor the ex-MP for Tatton and who until 10 months ago was just about the most powerful person in government excluding the PM. He knows “where the bodies are hidden”…

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Macron moves to a 90%+ chance as another day goes by and his 20% lead holds firm

Macron moves to a 90%+ chance as another day goes by and his 20% lead holds firm

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The time’s running out for Le Pen Latest betting on the French Presidential elections has Macron moving to a 90% chance with the far right Marine Le Pen on 10%. There is not much time left for Le Pen’s hoped for surge to bring about victory. French law imposes a black out on published polls after Friday and the election takes place on Sunday closing at 1900 BST. What is extraordinary about the polling is how all of them have…

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