The more striking thing, as he sees it, is the failure of the declining protest vote to split decisively in any direction. Too many voters, he says, see "no reason to commit just yet", instead "holding off, perhaps until the end of this year, to see whether they can really feel the recovery in their pockets or not by that point".
I'd suggest it's not so much whether they can feel the recovery in their own pockets, as whether it's too much of a risk to switch back to a Labour government.
Isabel on a rumour doing the rounds: In terms of what we can expect from this evening, it looks as though the announcements will predominantly be sackings. But there is a rumour that there may be a big announcement at some point tonight, possibly an unexpected retirement.
Isabel on a rumour doing the rounds: In terms of what we can expect from this evening, it looks as though the announcements will predominantly be sackings. But there is a rumour that there may be a big announcement at some point tonight, possibly an unexpected retirement.
That might well be Hague. Perhaps he is heading off to Brussels.
Isabel on a rumour doing the rounds: In terms of what we can expect from this evening, it looks as though the announcements will predominantly be sackings. But there is a rumour that there may be a big announcement at some point tonight, possibly an unexpected retirement.
I said last week at the PB meet that I expected William Hague to stand down.
Damn, the Guardian have not included the politicians ratings in their piece.
So we will have to wait until tomorrow to know if George Osborne is the most popular UK wide politician in the UK, and is Ed still crapper than Nick Clegg.
I think Ed's (dwindling) supporters will try and ignore this for now.
YouGov will be critical I think. Lefties will put on a brave face until a YouGov turns up with Con in the lead... Then all hell will break lose probably.
But even with this fabled crossover Ed still becomes PM......yes?
If you believe this Gold Standard poll* and it happened tomorrow sure. But realistically I wouldn't put money on Ed coming PM if he is behind in the polls now.
* As positive as this poll is until others back it up it could be a rogue or outlier. Though its not the first poll this year to show crossover.
I think Ed's (dwindling) supporters will try and ignore this for now.
YouGov will be critical I think. Lefties will put on a brave face until a YouGov turns up with Con in the lead... Then all hell will break lose probably.
Ashcroft, Populus, the marginals polling? It's tricky because ICM is generally considered the gold standard but on the Lab/Tory battle they are out of line.
I think Ed's (dwindling) supporters will try and ignore this for now.
YouGov will be critical I think. Lefties will put on a brave face until a YouGov turns up with Con in the lead... Then all hell will break lose probably.
But even with this fabled crossover Ed still becomes PM......yes?
Sure, if there were an election tomorrow.
So until the Tories start getting regular poll leads of 7% or more, no change to the likely outcome of the next election.
I quite accept that this may hearten / dishearten parties and their likely voters so any sort of a poll lead may have an effect quite disproportionate to its actual size. Still, there is not much time for the Tories to turn things round, I'm wary of underestimating Ed M (who I think is both cannier and nicer than some give him credit for) and the Tories' capacity for shooting themselves in the foot should never be underestimated either.
So until the Tories start getting regular poll leads of 7% or more, no change to the likely outcome of the next election.
I quite accept that this may hearten / dishearten parties and their likely voters so any sort of a poll lead may have an effect quite disproportionate to its actual size. Still, there is not much time for the Tories to tur things round, I'm wary of underestimating Ed M (who I think is both cannier and nicer than some give him credit for) and the Tories' capacity for shooting themselves in the foot should nerver be underestimated either.
I take the foot-shooting point, but it's certainly not the case that there is not much time to turn things round. I refer you to the analysis of Professor Fisher, which indicates that on previous experience there is every likelihood of a turnaround (though a shift in the other direction is also possible, of course).
I still say no pollster has proven themselves accurate in 4 party politics, but a drop is a drop and this is a biggie.
How sad it would be if the old guard got to carry on giving away all our power until there was nothing left
There's no guarantee that in Westminster we're in an era of 4 party politics. Seat-wise besides nationalists we could be heading back to 2 party politics.
Baffled as to why UKip should have dropped 7 points – they’ve not been in the news for yonks.
Maybe that's the reason.
But there is no reason for them to be in the news now that the Euros are behind us. Yes, they can turn their backs when the Ode to Joy is played but that isn't really making a strong policy statement.
BREAKING: Development Minister Alan Duncan has left the government “at his own request” - so has Northern Ireland Minister Andrew Robathan.
His stock has fallen massively. At one point, it seemed like I couldn't turn the telly on without him popping up as the friendly more liberal face of the Tory party, but he got a right bashing over expenses and seems to have been downhill from there.
Ed needs to do something interesting. If I was him I'd make a big speech in which he makes it clear that if he doesn't lead Labour into government next year after the general election he will stand down as party leader. Could go something like this:
'Ladies and gentlemen. One of the problems of modern politics is that people think politicians are only in it for themselves and don't take responsibility when things go wrong. So let me make a commitment to you. As I have repeatedly said the current government is having a terrible impact on the poorest in society and is taking our country in the wrong direction. It is my responsibility to remove the Tories from office and I will blame no-one but myself if I fail to do that. To be clear, if after the next election we are not in government in some way I will stand down as party leader to be replaced by someone else. The most important thing is the party and the leader should never lose sight of that.''
There are risks involved, but overall I think it would make Miliband look bold and decisive.
There are risks involved, but overall I think it would make Miliband look bold and decisive.
The problem with anything like this as it will not be at all authentic - as he has done nothing so far to show that he really can be bold and decisive. It will be seen as a last throw of the dice, a calculated act - and exposed as such.
He would have needed to have built up a track record of bold, decisive acts for anything like this be credible.
No, there isn't any - except in the imagination of the Basil bloke. Everything feels a bit odd at the moment and I shan't be surprised if we revert to business as usual and narrow Labour leads. Think how much worse it would be for Labour if ed were weird, or crap.
The Ukip surge predicated on their immunity to cover up allegations seems not to have occurred.
Anything that ends a political dynasty (of whatever party) is good for me. Don't care where they went to school, but I do find the concept of a political family dynasty unpalatable.
If UKIP are indeed fading fast in the polls then Ladbrokes' odds of 15/8 against them securing a share of the vote of between 5% - 10% at the GE appears to offer good value and better than the same odds offered against them winning a 10% - 15% share, bearing mind also that there are many seats in which they will not stand. I'm on but DYOR.
If UKIP are indeed fading fast in the polls then Ladbrokes' odds of 15/8 against them securing a share of the vote of between 5% - 10% at the GE appear to offer good value and better than the same odds offered against them winning a 10% - 15% share, bearing mind also that there are many seats in which they will not stand. I'm on but DYOR.
IIRC - The UKIP plan is to stand in every mainland seat.
If UKIP are indeed fading fast in the polls then Ladbrokes' odds of 15/8 against them securing a share of the vote of between 5% - 10% at the GE appears to offer good value and better than the same odds offered against them winning a 10% - 15% share, bearing mind also that there are many seats in which they will not stand. I'm on but DYOR.
If UKIP are indeed fading fast in the polls then Ladbrokes' odds of 15/8 against them securing a share of the vote of between 5% - 10% at the GE appear to offer good value and better than the same odds offered against them winning a 10% - 15% share, bearing mind also that there are many seats in which they will not stand. I'm on but DYOR.
IIRC - The UKIP plan is to stand in every mainland seat.
If UKIP are indeed fading fast in the polls then Ladbrokes' odds of 15/8 against them securing a share of the vote of between 5% - 10% at the GE appears to offer good value and better than the same odds offered against them winning a 10% - 15% share, bearing mind also that there are many seats in which they will not stand. I'm on but DYOR.
If UKIP are indeed fading fast in the polls then Ladbrokes' odds of 15/8 against them securing a share of the vote of between 5% - 10% at the GE appears to offer good value and better than the same odds offered against them winning a 10% - 15% share, bearing mind also that there are many seats in which they will not stand. I'm on but DYOR.
If UKIP are indeed fading fast in the polls then Ladbrokes' odds of 15/8 against them securing a share of the vote of between 5% - 10% at the GE appear to offer good value and better than the same odds offered against them winning a 10% - 15% share, bearing mind also that there are many seats in which they will not stand. I'm on but DYOR.
IIRC - The UKIP plan is to stand in every mainland seat.
If UKIP are indeed fading fast in the polls then Ladbrokes' odds of 15/8 against them securing a share of the vote of between 5% - 10% at the GE appears to offer good value and better than the same odds offered against them winning a 10% - 15% share, bearing mind also that there are many seats in which they will not stand. I'm on but DYOR.
Comments
Martin Boon points out:
The more striking thing, as he sees it, is the failure of the declining protest vote to split decisively in any direction. Too many voters, he says, see "no reason to commit just yet", instead "holding off, perhaps until the end of this year, to see whether they can really feel the recovery in their pockets or not by that point".
I'd suggest it's not so much whether they can feel the recovery in their own pockets, as whether it's too much of a risk to switch back to a Labour government.
For the purposes of comparison, The Tories had a 14% lead with ICM in July 2009.
Ed truly is crap
National Prediction: LAB short 13 of majority
Party 2010 Votes 2010 Seats Pred Votes Gains Losses Pred Seats
CON 36.97% 307 34.00% 18 40 285
LAB 29.66% 258 33.00% 55 0 313
LIB 23.56% 57 12.00% 0 32 25
UKIP 3.17% 0 9.00% 0 0 0
NAT 2.26% 9 2.26% 0 0 9
MIN 0.89% 19 0.89% 0 1 18
OTH 3.48% 0 8.85% 0 0 0
http://goo.gl/9RfFdf
Isabel on a rumour doing the rounds:
In terms of what we can expect from this evening, it looks as though the announcements will predominantly be sackings. But there is a rumour that there may be a big announcement at some point tonight, possibly an unexpected retirement.
Still 10 more months for further swingback too.
So we will have to wait until tomorrow to know if George Osborne is the most popular UK wide politician in the UK, and is Ed still crapper than Nick Clegg.
The tension is overwhelming me
YouGov will be critical I think. Lefties will put on a brave face until a YouGov turns up with Con in the lead... Then all hell will break lose probably.
I still say no pollster has proven themselves accurate in 4 party politics, but a drop is a drop and this is a biggie.
How sad it would be if the old guard got to carry on giving away all our power until there was nothing left
http://www.mediafire.com/view/ppajez4nrpjapp4/ICM_Guardian_polls_since_2010_GE.jpg
(UKIP gaps due not always prompted)
Showing a similar squeeze to an averaged YouGov polls over the same period...
http://www.mediafire.com/view/3xdx8azi2b2ggjq/10-Poll_YouGov_since_2010_GE.jpg
* As positive as this poll is until others back it up it could be a rogue or outlier. Though its not the first poll this year to show crossover.
9% is okay for UKIP, with ICM.
The poll is undoubtedly good news for the Tories, though.
EICIPM in all June and July polls including this one
Won't be until tomorrow.
I quite accept that this may hearten / dishearten parties and their likely voters so any sort of a poll lead may have an effect quite disproportionate to its actual size. Still, there is not much time for the Tories to turn things round, I'm wary of underestimating Ed M (who I think is both cannier and nicer than some give him credit for) and the Tories' capacity for shooting themselves in the foot should never be underestimated either.
(Edited for spelling mistakes.)
Brave.
Let the hysteria commence.
The Lib Dems losing 30 seats at the next GE will probably be a 'disaster'.
It's not me who makes up their ridiculous expectations management.
http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2014/07/cllr-amanda-milling-selected-to-fight-cannock-chase.html
UKIP was in fashion and Lib Dems out of fashion.
But fashions change and if this ICM trend takes hold, momentim will be with the Conservatives and another coalition with Lib Dems becomes likely.
Tom Newton Dunn @tnewtondunn 24s
BREAKING: Development Minister Alan Duncan has left the government “at his own request” - so has Northern Ireland Minister Andrew Robathan.
Con 3%
Lib Dem 2%
Lab 1%
The proportion of these gains by the parties from UKIP are credible as past supporters return.
No Lab supporters returning to Lib Dem though as yet.
'Ladies and gentlemen. One of the problems of modern politics is that people think politicians are only in it for themselves and don't take responsibility when things go wrong. So let me make a commitment to you. As I have repeatedly said the current government is having a terrible impact on the poorest in society and is taking our country in the wrong direction. It is my responsibility to remove the Tories from office and I will blame no-one but myself if I fail to do that. To be clear, if after the next election we are not in government in some way I will stand down as party leader to be replaced by someone else. The most important thing is the party and the leader should never lose sight of that.''
There are risks involved, but overall I think it would make Miliband look bold and decisive.
He would have needed to have built up a track record of bold, decisive acts for anything like this be credible.
The Ukip surge predicated on their immunity to cover up allegations seems not to have occurred.
joncraigSKY @joncraig 3m
I'm also reliably informed N Ireland minister Andrew Robathan & David Willetts (Science) leaving Govt. "They'll get knighthoods," I'm told.
Can't think why.
A lot of people will want his seat. Very safe.
I'm on but DYOR.
http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/next-uk-general-election/ukip-vote-percentage
http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/34583/
Ah feck it. I'm on.
http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/next-uk-general-election/match-bet
Ashcroft: Ed Miliband PM, majority 42
YouGov: Ed Miliband PM, majority 42
ICM: Ed Miliband PM, majority 13 short.
Imagine how much worse it'd be for the Tories if David Cameron was an out of touch upper class twit doing favours for his rich mates.