And Another Thing…

Nice try

You will make a spin doctor yet, Tom

You forgot to mention that the Conservative lead seems “soft” and that Labour are clearly poised to make a stunning comeback in the run up to the election.

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You may also want to use the words “mid-term” somewhere in your atricle…

It was pretty good to be fair. I would also have accepted expletives and a good old fashioned fist-through-the-monitor though.

What you backbench Labour MP’s need to remember is that this isn’t a damning indictment of Labour, it’s a damning indictment of the Government. Therefore, the solution seems clear, oust the front bench, replace them with the more able members of the back bench, and then watch the Tories crumble.

Just because we don’t want Brown, Harperson, or Jackie Smith anywhere near the reigns of power doesn’t mean that we want the Tories back, it’s just that they are the sole alternative to the people of this country. Give them another Labour choice with a backbench rebellion!

“Backbench rebellion” – it even SOUNDS cool doesn’t it?

Yes but Tom the questions say:

““The Conservatives have the right ideas about how to get Britain out of recession”
Agree – 35%
Disagree – 45%

Importantly for the Tories, 45% of those who don’t know or refuse to say how they would vote disagree with this statement, and a further 37% don’t know, suggesting that they are not convincing the many undecideds that they would do a better job on the biggest issue of the day”

LOLZ @ ur misfortune!

Erm… okay, I admit that’s a better attempt than mine.

Very funny. I look forward to your posting when the LibDems overtake Labour. And it could happen before the G20!

I particularly enjoyed;
“MPs should give back some of their allowances as an example to the banks”
Agree – 77%
Disagree – 20%

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How about it, Tom? Fancy giving up some of your perks?

YouGov poll is much more favourable,

CONSERVATIVES 44% (+1)
LABOUR 32% (nc)
LIB DEMS 14% (-2)

From Political Betting..

Tom its way to late to bother about polls.

@ Charlotte MacKenzie – re: “suggesting that they are not convincing the many undecideds that they would do a better job on the biggest issue of the day”

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It’s always worth pointing out that a large number of poll “undecideds” won’t actually bother to turn up to vote, as evidenced by the nearly 44% of people who admitted that they didn’t vote in the 2005 elections…

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Assuming the weighted base is the same (i.e. across the board) that means that nearly half of those 45% of people who said that they thought that the Conservatives “don’t have the right policies” won’t vote in 2010 anyway.

The election will be much closer than all these polls suggest me thinks.

I want a Conservative win but there’s an awful long way to go and there are many twists ahead for the three main parties.

Hung parliament anyone?

I love a tight grip on reality

And if I may add the results of another poll from YouGov:

CONSERVATIVES 44% (+1)
LABOUR 32% (nc)
LIB DEMS 14% (-2)

Just shows the only poll we can believe is the one in 2010.

Don’t worry about polls. I try not to. If I were you, I’d be somewhat encouraged by some recent local by-elections. A lot of that Tory lead does indeed appear to be soft.

Looks like Gordon Brown’s political career will be hitting my scythe very soon!

Well Tom; What’s it like in the Downing Street Bunker?

Hows the glorious Savior of the World doing?……….still moving around his non existent army of Labour supporters then? LOL

You guys really need to get out more. )……….IT’S OVER, Tom.

Labour will be lucky if they manage to stay ahead of the LibDems after the coming General Election.

Wouldn’t it be great if the LibDems actually got a higher % than Labour? Maybe Gordon wouldn’t then be persuaded by Lord Mandelson to hold a general election in June 2009. Yes, that is 2009 – apparently on the back of the boost to his popularity by announcing a massive increase in public spending (shouldn’t that be ‘borrowing’?) in the Budget and after he’s been seen rubbing shoulders with Obama in early April.

These spin doctors – don’t they make you laugh?

You could mention that during the years preceeding the New Labour landslide of 1997, Labour routinely held 50%+ ratings in the polls…

Following in Tom’s mould:

1) It’s the Mid-term blues.

2) It’s unlikely to be replicated at a general election.

;o)

near the reigns

Oh, try spooling it rite. reins, pullease.

As for the rest. Pats caring. You want to meet Pat. Loverly man.

Excellent spinning, you’ll should have a job in PR for the banks )
Though as we all know there is only one poll that’ll count.

I think the big thing that’s in the air right now is boundary changes.
I read a report (can’t remember where and I’m too tired to google) about the time that GB aborted that election last summer that we may well see a hung parliament thanks to boundary changes. If the election is close, and if Labour lose out in some of it’s heartlands (so Plaid picking up votes in the valleys, but more importantly, the SNP grabbing seats in Scotland, which even in the latest (less than stellar SNP-wise) polls, compared to the 2005 they seem certain too), we could see the election result hinging on English swing-seats.

And those are the ones where boundary changes come in…..
A hung Parliament isn’t that unlikely in the above circumstances. The “Make Westminster dance to a Scottish Jig” speech by Salmond at the last party conference was alluding to this possibility. The No3. and No 4. parties in Westminster (Lib Dems. and the SNP/Plaid Cymru alliance) may well be in the position of Kingmaker in this situation. Obviously this depends on a number of highly difficult-to-predict variables, but it’ll be interesting to see, whatever party you vote for…
Any thought on this Tom ? (Hypothetically speaking of course, I realise you’ll be under the sure and certain belief Labour will be returned with at least a 100 seat majority).

Well over on ConHome they’re (I guess I should say we’re) getting a little worried! Mostly at the LibDem upturn. There’s still plenty of time for things to change, though I think your sarcasm is well placed. And as long as you’re safe I’ll be happy.

I think the election will be before june 2010.
The labour party thinks it can control events, but it is events that will overwhelm your government.
It has been the best propaganda government we have ever had.
The way you have kept conning people to support you is just unbelievable.
The problem is that for years people supported you for what you said not what you have done.
Anything you thought you may have achieved has counted for nothing with the smashed economy we now have, and that is the only thing you will be remembered for.

It has been estimated that 16% of the British population believe that the Earth is flat and the Moon made out of green cheese. Are these the same people who think Cameron will make a great P.M.? I would not be the slightest bit surprised.

Cameron cannot be worse than Labour/Brown it is impossible.

Arnold .
Most of those you refer to may not vote.

People can believe what they like: if they don’t vote they are irrelevant

@ Arnold “It has been estimated that 16% of the British population believe that the Earth is flat and the Moon made out of green cheese”.

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The Libdems core vote is around 16%. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

Read the property pages.
First time buyers are on the march.
The CEO of the National Association of Estate Agents say their share of the market – 25%, is ‘highly significant in terms of demonstrating an increase in consumer confidence….and is indicative of a healthy and confident market….consumer confidence was returning’

tory vote share plunges to 41%

Well, as any economically literate person will know:
Estate agents like to SELL houses. And they puff anything…And of course house prices never fall – or so estate agents told us…
And who ever believes anything any estate agent says?

Answer: those of weak intellect…

I anticipate a period of relative economic calm till May-June 2009. And then a further and nasty period which will last till 21010.
Now I KNOW A Darling said economic recovery will start Q3 2009. But he is a politician.

People who believe politicians also believe estate agents…

I have NO belief that the Conservative Party is going to bring the UK out of its economic mess quickly. I have no great faith in them. I am a cynic as in my experience, cynicism is a way to avoid insanity.

But I do believe this: the current government is going to leave the Labour Party associated with economic failure for 2 decades.

The Conservatives in 1997 were a Party riven by conflict and sleaze but generally economically competent.

Labour in 2009 are ridden with sleaze but so incompetent economically none of them have the nous or courage to challenge the man who has helped bring the country to an economic mess.

I suspect the polls may get much worse.

Maf – I’ve posted a short sharp fact, and you’ve posted long winded waffling paragraphs of anticipations and assumptions.
Hmmm.

@ I’ve posted a short sharp fact
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But we do have to contrast it with the vast drifts of ra-ra “Labour is great” twaddle that you’ve posted in the past.

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Past performance is no indicator of future performance.

Richard.
I’ve hardly hidden the fact that I think Labour is absolutely-blooming-fantastic, my money’s where my mouth is, and I’m a member and supporter.
And your problem with that is?
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That you disagree/dislike my point of view and allegiance and whether you consider my comments valid/stupid is irrelevant to me.
The fact that you, an expert in politics according to a recent discussion, enjoy having a pop at me only points up that I appear to rattle you enough to respond. But I don’t mind, really, it’s all part of the fun. And I’ve enjoyed having a go at you occasionally too – in my sweet and simplistic way, eh?
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(Thanks for that tip btw)
And if you’re the same Richard who comments on ConHome, (recently, was it on wives being paid to stay home?) sharing your ‘knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing’ Tory expertise is, I grant you, illuminating.

@Ani.
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Not the same Richard on ConHome although he sounds like a sensible chap (paying wives to stay at home seems a pretty good idea but I’d have to see how it’s funded).

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I’m not so much rattled by your support for Labour as astounded that anyone is still openly in favour of such a sleaze-raddled and incompetent shower of political pygmies.