politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » TNS-BMRB has LAB retaining it’s 7% lead while YouGov has CON and LAB level-pegging
It operates differently from all other firms. People are contacted face to face but then complete the survey online usually at home. It’s the way the firm selects its sample that makes it unique.
Just had to do that after so many years of missing it.
TNS very odd scores and technique. Based on the overall range of polls, seems pretty level at the moment. A problem for Labour as NHS is their only card at all and they've used it too early and run the NHS in Wales.
Congratulations, Saddo! You are indeed a Sad case. ;-)
First, may I apologise to both my avid readers for the absence of posts recently. I have been tied up with Jury Service. Naturally I ought not reveal details of the case I am on, but as it only involves a 100yo Scottish Jacobite, accused of using LibDems as filling for his custom-made pies I don't suppose anybody will care. He's plainly guilty anyway.
Meanwhile in my absence I see the Conservatives actually recorded a lead in one poll. Presumably this is what has caused their prices to shorten up in the various GE markets, despite the fact that all the other polls seem to be telling a slightly different story.
You can't keep those Blue punters down. Keep up the good work lads!
Bye for now, and if JackW drops in, send him my best wishes and tell him I'll come to visit him in prison.
We keep reading about 'the strength of the Labour brand" and how "Tories are toxic"
Today's YouGov:
Lab vs Con: Kind of society it wants broadly kind of society I want: -2 Led by people of real ability: -13 Prepared to take tough/unpopular decisions: -34 Seems to chop & change: -13
We keep reading about 'the strength of the Labour brand" and how "Tories are toxic"
Today's YouGov:
Lab vs Con: Kind of society it wants broadly kind of society I want: -2 Led by people of real ability: -13 Prepared to take tough/unpopular decisions: -34 Seems to chop & change: -13
Congratulations, Saddo! You are indeed a Sad case. ;-)
First, may I apologise to both my avid readers for the absence of posts recently. I have been tied up with Jury Service. Naturally I ought not reveal details of the case I am on, but as it only involves a 100yo Scottish Jacobite, accused of using LibDems as filling for his custom-made pies I don't suppose anybody will care. He's plainly guilty anyway.
Meanwhile in my absence I see the Conservatives actually recorded a lead in one poll. Presumably this is what has caused their prices to shorten up in the various GE markets, despite the fact that all the other polls seem to be telling a slightly different story.
You can't keep those Blue punters down. Keep up the good work lads!
Bye for now, and if JackW drops in, send him my best wishes and tell him I'll come to visit him in prison.
Going by feel and hunch is a dangerous game in polling analysis but I looking at all the current polling I suspect YouGov is about right and that the two main parties are level pegging. As Anthony Wells pointed out, when you look at their vote share it's possible to have both the Populus and Lord Ashcroft results off level pegging with MoE.
The reason, actually, why I'm not trusting the TNS-BMRB is not because of the main parties but … the Greens. There is a lot of evidence that they are surging, rather falling back.
Nevertheless, it's always worth reminding oneself that a rogue poll is one you don't like.
I know it's a subsample, but it suggests the SNP is on 49% in Scotland versus 22% for Labour, that's a staggering number.
Also the Scottish results on the "how do you feel about the party" questions are way out of whack with every where else, suggesting SNP surge is very very real
We keep reading about 'the strength of the Labour brand" and how "Tories are toxic"
Today's YouGov:
Lab vs Con: Kind of society it wants broadly kind of society I want: -2 Led by people of real ability: -13 Prepared to take tough/unpopular decisions: -34 Seems to chop & change: -13
And I do hope you are enjoying your last hours of freedom. :-)
A travesty of justice .... although the whole court was much entertained by your changing daily sartorial elegance of which clearly the judge was greatly appreciative of that peach and cerise twin set, ostrich and crocodile skin hat and bottle green and purple feather boa - a stunning triumph !!
We keep reading about 'the strength of the Labour brand" and how "Tories are toxic"
Today's YouGov:
Lab vs Con: Kind of society it wants broadly kind of society I want: -2 Led by people of real ability: -13 Prepared to take tough/unpopular decisions: -34 Seems to chop & change: -13
And I do hope you are enjoying your last hours of freedom. :-)
I’m not entirely sure it’s appropriate for a jury member to socialise with the person he helped convict. So soon anyway!
More seriously I suggest that the polls are still in a post-Christmas bubble. Or possibly bobble! Is “life" really back to normal until about now? After the field-work was done? Further, those who participate in the annual Income Tax Filing Handicap may well find that their charges are lower this year, and consequently feel that they can stick with the current incumbents.
I know it's a subsample, but it suggests the SNP is on 49% in Scotland versus 22% for Labour, that's a staggering number.
Also the Scottish results on the "how do you feel about the party" questions are way out of whack with every where else, suggesting SNP surge is very very real
There's little doubt that the SNP are ahead of Labour in Scotland - but is in mid-40s to mid--20s, or mid--30s to high-20s? In seat terms that's a world of difference - and then there is the question over turnout - which the BES cast doubt on some recent hypotheses.....
At the GE in 2010 (GB figs I think) TNS understated the Tories 36.9 v poll 33 ditto Labour 29.7 v poll 27 and overstated the LB 23.6 v poll 29 They are indeed unique.
At the GE in 2010 (GB figs I think) TNS understated the Tories 36.9 v poll 33 ditto Labour 29.7 v poll 27 and overstated the LD 23.6 v poll 29 They are indeed unique.
The Conservatives are underperforming compared to what they should be polling given the economic indicators. Cameron better hope enough UKIP voters hold their nose and vote for him tactically.
I have given up reading thread-headers (and saving my neurons from trying to comprehend them) by logging in to the VanillaForums portal. Writing threads must be difficult and time-consuming yet - gasp - most appear to be a pastiche of the 'Eighties phrase Does my @rse look big in this...?
That said: Which will appear first? The next General-Election or Brent-Crude at-or-under £30-a-barrel...?
And I do hope you are enjoying your last hours of freedom. :-)
A travesty of justice .... although the whole court was much entertained by your changing daily sartorial elegance of which clearly the judge was greatly appreciative of that peach and cerise twin set, ostrich and crocodile skin hat and bottle green and purple feather boa - a stunning triumph !!
My appeal is on 8th May :
JackW Will Never Be Imprisoned
Good to find you in fine form, Jack.....and remember, you will always appeal to me. ;-)
And I do hope you are enjoying your last hours of freedom. :-)
A travesty of justice .... although the whole court was much entertained by your changing daily sartorial elegance of which clearly the judge was greatly appreciative of that peach and cerise twin set, ostrich and crocodile skin hat and bottle green and purple feather boa - a stunning triumph !!
My appeal is on 8th May :
JackW Will Never Be Imprisoned
Good to find you in fine form, Jack.....and remember, you will always appeal to me. ;-)
Cheeky scoundrel.
I wondered why you were winking in my direction and dropped your white gloves and bent down to reveal ....
"We keep reading about 'the strength of the Labour brand" and how "Tories are toxic" Today's YouGov: Lab vs Con: Kind of society it wants broadly kind of society I want: -2 Led by people of real ability: -13 Prepared to take tough/unpopular decisions: -34 Seems to chop & change: -13"
Doesn't that prove how strong the Labour brand is again the Tories? All those negative scores and yet it still manages to be level on voting intention?
Tend to agree with the average view here that the real position is that Laour are slightly ahead. Where I disagree is that I think there's actually very little volatility left. What we see is broadly what we're going to get.
We keep reading about 'the strength of the Labour brand" and how "Tories are toxic"
Today's YouGov:
Lab vs Con: Kind of society it wants broadly kind of society I want: -2 Led by people of real ability: -13 Prepared to take tough/unpopular decisions: -34 Seems to chop & change: -13
YES. We so rarely hear about the evidence which contradicts the 'conventional wisdom' on here.
We don't often see much evidence which supports it either.......
Yes you do, and if you look at the figures you quote and compare with the polls, also helpfully laid out in this thread, you will see more evidence.
The key point to grasp is that Tory toxicity is a defence not condemnation of Conservative policies. Look at your figures -- if the Conservatives have the best policies, the best leaders, or the best whatevers, then they ought to have a lead in the polls. That they do not is then put down to toxicity. It means you do not need to change your policies, just fix the marketing.
Huzzah, Donetsk airport has fallen to the rebels. Ignoring its strategic and symbolic importance, it has been the source of continual shelling, including cluster bombs, of residential areas in Donetsk. Let's hope the Novorussian armed forces can continue their success and liberate further areas and allow a semblance of normal life to return to the Donbass. Despite ceasfires and umpteen peace negotiations the Galicians don't seem to want to go home to the West voluntarily.
Was going to watch Question Time, but a few minutes of listening to Mehdi Hasan's bullshit* persuaded me it'd only be irritating.
Not sure that drawing looks like Farage.
*He compared Mohammed cartoons to farting in a lift, ie not illegal just rude. Except that nobody confines you in a small space and rubs your face in a magazine. If you don't want to see Mohammed's cartoons you can just avoid the magazine. The equivalent to farting in a lift would be waving it around in a Muslim's face or invading a home/mosque and pasting it onto the walls.
Christine Lagarde head of IMF criticised the coalition in 2013 for its economic policy and direction. Today she states this is a model economy and what they always like to see and sets an example to the world.
I don't know if she was right in 2013 or right now. What I do know is in 2013 the media tore the coalition a new one while lining up Labour telling us the world was about to end. Today ....... Nothing? Not a peep? Not even a passing reference and no Labour figures on our screens welcoming this good news.
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Mr. Moses, could be wrong, but wasn't most of the criticism from a senior chap, but not Lagarde herself?
You're entirely right about media coverage being nonsense, however. It's depressing.
I sometimes think we have a more accurate picture of the past than the present. Imagine the news, presented by Polybius, Thucydides and Ammianus Marcellinus! [Hopefully with English subtitles].
Ambrose "A-Levels Economics"-Pritchard has a piece out today on the Swiss National Bank and the Euro peg. As usual, it's chock full of factual inaccuracies - most of which could have been avoided by reading the reports of the SNB on their website.
Tend to agree with the average view here that the real position is that Laour are slightly ahead. Where I disagree is that I think there's actually very little volatility left. What we see is broadly what we're going to get.
Not likely, Nick, there's still circa 20% of the voting public not paying attention
Mr. 1000, are the inaccuracies small, or do they affect his conclusions? NB not saying 'small' inaccuracies don't matter, they do, I'm just wondering what the impact of his mistakes are on his thinking.
(As an aside, AE-P was excellent as the European correspondent of the Telegraph, and uncovered some interesting things - and some absurd things - as the Washington one. What he has a very poor grasp of, unfortunately, is economics.)
24 hours without further debate on debates. Has Cameron ridden the storm out on this one? I think so.
I was interested that it wasn't raised on Question Time. The Beeb hedging its bets in case the Tories get back in and give the current licence fee set-up a long hard look?
I think bigging up the raw deal for the Greens meant it was always going to be six of one (Cameron) and half a dozen of the other (Miliband) on who was "frit". With the LibDems keeping their heads down in case people start saying "oi, Clegg - hang on a minute - what you doing there?"
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
We keep reading about 'the strength of the Labour brand" and how "Tories are toxic"
Today's YouGov:
Lab vs Con: Kind of society it wants broadly kind of society I want: -2 Led by people of real ability: -13 Prepared to take tough/unpopular decisions: -34 Seems to chop & change: -13
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
Tend to agree with the average view here that the real position is that Laour are slightly ahead. Where I disagree is that I think there's actually very little volatility left. What we see is broadly what we're going to get.
Not likely, Nick, there's still circa 20% of the voting public not paying attention
It's likely way more than 20%.
Outside Scotland, the next election boils down to voters answering this question: what would Labour do better than this lot? In essence - Labour- why would you take the risk? To my mind Labour has not made that case. Nowhere near. They have had over four years to do so and now have less than four months to dream up something. I thought it very telling on QT last night that when Anna Soubry was saying we needed to carry on clearing up the mess created by Labour, Wee Dougie just sat there without response. And this is the guy who has been at the heart of framing Labour's election campaign. Hmmmm....
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
Yes
Wouldn't that mean the leaders of parties with the best VI rating should easily beat those whose parties score around half their number? Would be amazing if a 3rd or 4th party leader scored as well as the leading parties leader, esp if their party was the most disliked/divisive
Surely a better analysis would peg the leader rating to the party VI then compare?
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
Yes
Wouldn't that mean the leaders of parties with the best VI rating should easily beat those whose parties score around half their number? Would be amazing if a 3rd or 4th party leader scored as well as the leading parties leader, esp if their party was the most disliked/divisive
No.
For example in January 2010, Nick Clegg led David Cameron on the leader ratings by 13%, despite the Lib Dems trailing the Tories by 24% in the VI.
I was once within a yard of Mrs T (short, waddled, heavily made up 'camera ready' I guess is the term), a yard of John Smith (Edinburgh Sleeper, he was holding forth to enraptured acolytes, evidently on his nth whisky), Gordon Brown (Glyndebourn, eating what looked like prawn cocktail), John Major (20 yards, at a dinner in London, very impressive in person), but as Princess Margaret said to me the other day - I'm such a name dropper!
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
Yes
Wouldn't that mean the leaders of parties with the best VI rating should easily beat those whose parties score around half their number? Would be amazing if a 3rd or 4th party leader scored as well as the leading parties leader, esp if their party was the most disliked/divisive
Not so amazing. All leaders are still more disliked than liked. It's just a question of degree. And it is easier to be " meh..." about a leader of a party that will never have power (Farage) than it one who has power (Clegg) or who might have power (Miliband)
Doesn't that prove how strong the Labour brand is again the Tories? All those negative scores and yet it still manages to be level on voting intention?
Strong "brands" don't have weak "attributes". Of course there are other measures where Labour are clearly ahead of the Tories, and any fool can 'buy' market share - but if Labour emerge as the largest party, with these (and in particular Ed's) ratings, several 'rules' are going to be torn up.......
Meanwhile Miliband is silent about the outrage of a scandal in Tower Hamlets, where council workers were threatened with losing their jobs if they didn't 'deliver' enough votes, where old ladies were stood over as they filled out their ballots, and where the judge investigating had to move the inquiry out of the borough because of intimidation there. The man's a disgrace to democracy. No doubt he'll come out in favour of foreigners voting straight off the boat too.
Ambrose "A-Levels Economics"-Pritchard has a piece out today on the Swiss National Bank and the Euro peg. As usual, it's chock full of factual inaccuracies - most of which could have been avoided by reading the reports of the SNB on their website.
The Tories have been accused of attempting split Labour's vote after an MP urged a constituent to back the Green Party.
Ed Miliband’s team fear an email from Jason McCartney, the Tory MP for Colne Valley, to a voter opposed to austerity, telling her the Green candidate who is the “only candidate who matches what you believe”, is evidence of a broader attempt to divide left-wing voters.
I was once within a yard of Mrs T (short, waddled, heavily made up 'camera ready' I guess is the term), a yard of John Smith (Edinburgh Sleeper, he was holding forth to enraptured acolytes, evidently on his nth whisky), Gordon Brown (Glyndebourn, eating what looked like prawn cocktail), John Major (20 yards, at a dinner in London, very impressive in person), but as Princess Margaret said to me the other day - I'm such a name dropper!
I found myself standing next to the Mellorphant Man. A friend offered me £50 to throw my coffee over him.
Labour rallying to the cause of those can't be arsed to register? Who would then vote? Hmm....
As a related aside, do pollsters actually ask those who they poll "are you actually registered to vote in the General Election?" If so, what proportion say no? If they don't - why ever not?
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
Yes
Wouldn't that mean the leaders of parties with the best VI rating should easily beat those whose parties score around half their number? Would be amazing if a 3rd or 4th party leader scored as well as the leading parties leader, esp if their party was the most disliked/divisive
Not so amazing. All leaders are still more disliked than liked. It's just a question of degree. And it is easier to be " meh..." about a leader of a party that will never have power (Farage) than it one who has power (Clegg) or who might have power (Miliband)
That might work if ukip weren't the most disliked party in polling often quoted on here
But as that polling exists, the 'meh' get out doesn't work
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
Yes
Wouldn't that mean the leaders of parties with the best VI rating should easily beat those whose parties score around half their number? Would be amazing if a 3rd or 4th party leader scored as well as the leading parties leader, esp if their party was the most disliked/divisive
Not so amazing. All leaders are still more disliked than liked. It's just a question of degree. And it is easier to be " meh..." about a leader of a party that will never have power (Farage) than it one who has power (Clegg) or who might have power (Miliband)
That might work if ukip weren't the most disliked party in polling often quoted on here
But as that polling exists, the 'meh' get out doesn't work
It works when Farage says he has no intention of being Prime Minister. Or maybe people should doubt what he says?
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
Yes
Wouldn't that mean the leaders of parties with the best VI rating should easily beat those whose parties score around half their number? Would be amazing if a 3rd or 4th party leader scored as well as the leading parties leader, esp if their party was the most disliked/divisive
No.
For example in January 2010, Nick Clegg led David Cameron on the leader ratings by 13%, despite the Lib Dems trailing the Tories by 24% in the VI.
There are other examples.
What were the liked/disliked ratings for the lib dems at the time?
We keep reading about 'the strength of the Labour brand" and how "Tories are toxic"
Today's YouGov:
Lab vs Con: Kind of society it wants broadly kind of society I want: -2 Led by people of real ability: -13 Prepared to take tough/unpopular decisions: -34 Seems to chop & change: -13
It's part of a set of pieces from the latest Wings poll.
And also that assertion that the Scots are very different from rUK is also wrong?
I'm sure Ed's inner Socialist would agree with those policies - just his outer politician wants to get elected & knows there is no where near enough money to pay for re-nationalisation of the utilities & national rail.....
I was once within a yard of Mrs T (short, waddled, heavily made up 'camera ready' I guess is the term), a yard of John Smith (Edinburgh Sleeper, he was holding forth to enraptured acolytes, evidently on his nth whisky), Gordon Brown (Glyndebourn, eating what looked like prawn cocktail), John Major (20 yards, at a dinner in London, very impressive in person), but as Princess Margaret said to me the other day - I'm such a name dropper!
I've been within 20 yards of Barack Obama, 10 yards of Prince Charles, and once shook the hand of David Cameron.
I was once within a yard of Mrs T (short, waddled, heavily made up 'camera ready' I guess is the term), a yard of John Smith (Edinburgh Sleeper, he was holding forth to enraptured acolytes, evidently on his nth whisky), Gordon Brown (Glyndebourn, eating what looked like prawn cocktail), John Major (20 yards, at a dinner in London, very impressive in person), but as Princess Margaret said to me the other day - I'm such a name dropper!
I found myself standing next to the Mellorphant Man. A friend offered me £50 to throw my coffee over him.
So you've had the opportunity to push Brian Coleman in to a pool, and pour your coffee over David Mellor, and you didn't take up either opportunity.
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
Yes
Wouldn't that mean the leaders of parties with the best VI rating should easily beat those whose parties score around half their number? Would be amazing if a 3rd or 4th party leader scored as well as the leading parties leader, esp if their party was the most disliked/divisive
No.
For example in January 2010, Nick Clegg led David Cameron on the leader ratings by 13%, despite the Lib Dems trailing the Tories by 24% in the VI.
There are other examples.
What were the liked/disliked ratings for the lib dems at the time?
"Even after taking all these points into consideration, some of the large movements look odd. Why are the Conservatives so poorly thought of in Portsmouth North? Why are Labour thought so likely to win Bristol North West from third? Why is Rugby seen as so safe for the Tories? None of the information available seems strong enough to justify large deviations from the norm. Betting against these anomalies seems sound."
Really interesting piece - thanks.
On the point I have quoted, the question that arises in my head is: who are you betting against?
The risk for you would be that there is a shrewd punter with relevant local knowledge.
Mr. Socrates, it's not necessarily the case that Miliband wants a system wide open to fraud that benefits Labour. He could simply be a moron (cf the fuel price freeze).
Mind you, the Conservative policy to set fire to the internet is hardly a model of intellectual rigour.
The Tories have been accused of attempting split Labour's vote after an MP urged a constituent to back the Green Party.
Ed Miliband’s team fear an email from Jason McCartney, the Tory MP for Colne Valley, to a voter opposed to austerity, telling her the Green candidate who is the “only candidate who matches what you believe”, is evidence of a broader attempt to divide left-wing voters.
The Tories have been accused of attempting split Labour's vote after an MP urged a constituent to back the Green Party.
Ed Miliband’s team fear an email from Jason McCartney, the Tory MP for Colne Valley, to a voter opposed to austerity, telling her the Green candidate who is the “only candidate who matches what you believe”, is evidence of a broader attempt to divide left-wing voters.
Sunil commented yesterday about two clear groups of voters Green/Labour on 40% (I'd add 5% nationalist) and Con/UKIP on 47%. And, both groups are divided.
I was once within a yard of Mrs T (short, waddled, heavily made up 'camera ready' I guess is the term), a yard of John Smith (Edinburgh Sleeper, he was holding forth to enraptured acolytes, evidently on his nth whisky), Gordon Brown (Glyndebourn, eating what looked like prawn cocktail), John Major (20 yards, at a dinner in London, very impressive in person), but as Princess Margaret said to me the other day - I'm such a name dropper!
I've been within 20 yards of Barack Obama, 10 yards of Prince Charles, and once shook the hand of David Cameron.
I'm a bit embarrassed about the last one.
Not as embarrassed as Cameron is that he shook yours!
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
Yes
Wouldn't that mean the leaders of parties with the best VI rating should easily beat those whose parties score around half their number? Would be amazing if a 3rd or 4th party leader scored as well as the leading parties leader, esp if their party was the most disliked/divisive
Not so amazing. All leaders are still more disliked than liked. It's just a question of degree. And it is easier to be " meh..." about a leader of a party that will never have power (Farage) than it one who has power (Clegg) or who might have power (Miliband)
That might work if ukip weren't the most disliked party in polling often quoted on here
But as that polling exists, the 'meh' get out doesn't work
It works when Farage says he has no intention of being Prime Minister. Or maybe people should doubt what he says?
I don't think it does work actually
Put it this way, I do a lot if work on analysing goalscorers worth to their team. In England obviously Costa and Aguero are the top scorers and most likely winners of golden boot, but in terms of worth to their team, Austin and Bony (when at Swansea) have much better ratings.
There are similar patterns all across European football.. In Germany the value isn't with the top scorers like Lewsndowski but with players who get big % of their teams goals like Alexandre Meier of Berlin
So it is worth pegging leader ratings to party VI I think to avoid giving a false impression
It's part of a set of pieces from the latest Wings poll.
Except of course people would never vote for these policies in real life. Ask if every voters child should be given a pet unicorn, you'll find broad support.
Ask about how these things should be paid for (SSE has a market cap of ~15bn on it's own) and you get different answers.
It's crappy polling because it doesn't ask a balanced question, total waste of money. But it's not being done to gather information, it's done to try and influence the debate
It's a stupid complaint as most students will be registered to vote at home, in any case.
It's not a genuine complaint. What he's actually worried about is the breaking of 'community leaders' delivering block votes for Labour.
I think it's mostly about student voters. If they're registered to vote across 650 constituencies, rather than concentrated in 50 or so, their voting power is diluted. People like Julian Huppert, Nick Clegg, Greg Mulholland, would find it easier to hold their seats.
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
Yes
Wouldn't that mean the leaders of parties with the best VI rating should easily beat those whose parties score around half their number? Would be amazing if a 3rd or 4th party leader scored as well as the leading parties leader, esp if their party was the most disliked/divisive
No.
For example in January 2010, Nick Clegg led David Cameron on the leader ratings by 13%, despite the Lib Dems trailing the Tories by 24% in the VI.
There are other examples.
What were the liked/disliked ratings for the lib dems at the time?
They didn't ask that question of the Lib Dems.
We if you can try and put aside personal dislike of me for a moment, I think you'd be wise to consider the relative VI of parties when analysing leader ratings, and also take the like/dislike factor into consideration.
Messi score more goals than Charlie Austin, but that doesn't mean his worth to Barca is more than austins to QPR because barca score more goals and create more chances. If you ignore that you'd miss out on value bets,
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
Yes
Wouldn't that mean the leaders of parties with the best VI rating should easily beat those whose parties score around half their number? Would be amazing if a 3rd or 4th party leader scored as well as the leading parties leader, esp if their party was the most disliked/divisive
Not so amazing. All leaders are still more disliked than liked. It's just a question of degree. And it is easier to be " meh..." about a leader of a party that will never have power (Farage) than it one who has power (Clegg) or who might have power (Miliband)
That might work if ukip weren't the most disliked party in polling often quoted on here
But as that polling exists, the 'meh' get out doesn't work
It works when Farage says he has no intention of being Prime Minister. Or maybe people should doubt what he says?
I don't think it does work actually
Put it this way, I do a lot if work on analysing goalscorers worth to their team. In England obviously Costa and Aguero are the top scorers and most likely winners of golden boot, but in terms of worth to their team, Austin and Bony (when at Swansea) have much better ratings.
There are similar patterns all across European football.. In Germany the value isn't with the top scorers like Lewsndowski but with players who get big % of their teams goals like Alexandre Meier of Berlin
So it is worth pegging leader ratings to party VI I think to avoid giving a false impression
Except Farage has said he is happy to stay in goal.....
We keep reading about 'the strength of the Labour brand" and how "Tories are toxic"
Today's YouGov:
Lab vs Con: Kind of society it wants broadly kind of society I want: -2 Led by people of real ability: -13 Prepared to take tough/unpopular decisions: -34 Seems to chop & change: -13
It's part of a set of pieces from the latest Wings poll.
And also that assertion that the Scots are very different from rUK is also wrong?
I'm sure Ed's inner Socialist would agree with those policies - just his outer politician wants to get elected & knows there is no where near enough money to pay for re-nationalisation of the utilities & national rail.....
WoS, the SNP and every Yes apologist are now utterly discredited given the current oil price. They should be filed under Gordon Brown and Labour post 2008.
All political parties are toxic, if Labour were so great they would be in power or at least on course to win a majority, neither is the case.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
One is the incumbent Prime Minister inflicting austerity and annoying his base with unpopular things whilst the one is a populist not enacting anything unpopular.
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
Are the respondents in the leader satisfaction polls the same people who answered the VI poll?
Yes
Wouldn't that mean the leaders of parties with the best VI rating should easily beat those whose parties score around half their number? Would be amazing if a 3rd or 4th party leader scored as well as the leading parties leader, esp if their party was the most disliked/divisive
Not so amazing. All leaders are still more disliked than liked. It's just a question of degree. And it is easier to be " meh..." about a leader of a party that will never have power (Farage) than it one who has power (Clegg) or who might have power (Miliband)
That might work if ukip weren't the most disliked party in polling often quoted on here
But as that polling exists, the 'meh' get out doesn't work
It works when Farage says he has no intention of being Prime Minister. Or maybe people should doubt what he says?
I don't think it does work actually
Put it this way, I do a lot if work on analysing goalscorers worth to their team. In England obviously Costa and Aguero are the top scorers and most likely winners of golden boot, but in terms of worth to their team, Austin and Bony (when at Swansea) have much better ratings.
There are similar patterns all across European football.. In Germany the value isn't with the top scorers like Lewsndowski but with players who get big % of their teams goals like Alexandre Meier of Berlin
So it is worth pegging leader ratings to party VI I think to avoid giving a false impression
Except Farage has said he is happy to stay in goal.....
You're deliberately (I hope) missing the point to make partisan comments, so let's leave it
We keep reading about 'the strength of the Labour brand" and how "Tories are toxic"
Today's YouGov:
Lab vs Con: Kind of society it wants broadly kind of society I want: -2 Led by people of real ability: -13 Prepared to take tough/unpopular decisions: -34 Seems to chop & change: -13
It's part of a set of pieces from the latest Wings poll.
And also that assertion that the Scots are very different from rUK is also wrong?
I'm sure Ed's inner Socialist would agree with those policies - just his outer politician wants to get elected & knows there is no where near enough money to pay for re-nationalisation of the utilities & national rail.....
Morning! One can always rely on you to come in with the scalpel (nothing wrong with good arguments, of course). In the railway case, however, it's worth pointing out that (a) the track is in public ownership, and (b) the trains are a wasting asset and need replacement anyway, and (c) that the most successful and profitable company is a public one (East Coast, soon to be RIP).
Any country that votes 45% for the SNP is by definition very different from the one across the border (though admittedly the latter lot are not allowed to vote for a comparable set of policies).
Comments
TNS very odd scores and technique. Based on the overall range of polls, seems pretty level at the moment. A problem for Labour as NHS is their only card at all and they've used it too early and run the NHS in Wales.
First, may I apologise to both my avid readers for the absence of posts recently. I have been tied up with Jury Service. Naturally I ought not reveal details of the case I am on, but as it only involves a 100yo Scottish Jacobite, accused of using LibDems as filling for his custom-made pies I don't suppose anybody will care. He's plainly guilty anyway.
Meanwhile in my absence I see the Conservatives actually recorded a lead in one poll. Presumably this is what has caused their prices to shorten up in the various GE markets, despite the fact that all the other polls seem to be telling a slightly different story.
You can't keep those Blue punters down. Keep up the good work lads!
Bye for now, and if JackW drops in, send him my best wishes and tell him I'll come to visit him in prison.
Today's YouGov:
Lab vs Con:
Kind of society it wants broadly kind of society I want: -2
Led by people of real ability: -13
Prepared to take tough/unpopular decisions: -34
Seems to chop & change: -13
http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/1e1v63rcz6/YG-Archive-Pol-Sun-results-150115.pdf
Don't expect to see Ed Balls quoting this whilst he's in the US talking his country down.
The reason, actually, why I'm not trusting the TNS-BMRB is not because of the main parties but … the Greens. There is a lot of evidence that they are surging, rather falling back.
Nevertheless, it's always worth reminding oneself that a rogue poll is one you don't like.
Also the Scottish results on the "how do you feel about the party" questions are way out of whack with every where else, suggesting SNP surge is very very real
And I do hope you are enjoying your last hours of freedom. :-)
My appeal is on 8th May :
JackW Will Never Be Imprisoned
More seriously I suggest that the polls are still in a post-Christmas bubble. Or possibly bobble!
Is “life" really back to normal until about now? After the field-work was done? Further, those who participate in the annual Income Tax Filing Handicap may well find that their charges are lower this year, and consequently feel that they can stick with the current incumbents.
They are indeed unique.
That said: Which will appear first? The next General-Election or Brent-Crude at-or-under £30-a-barrel...?
I wondered why you were winking in my direction and dropped your white gloves and bent down to reveal ....
But the Guardian seem to think Sheffield Hallam University is in the constituency of Sheffield Hallam. It isn't
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/16/ed-miliband-1m-voters-fallen-off-electoral-roll
And who could have guessed it would be TNS-BMRB
Are you manning an bacon sandwich stall or flogging "JackW is Innocent" lapel buttons to the masses ?
http://newstonoone.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/reality-check-testing-betting-markets.html
1) The Tories ahead by 6%
2) Labour ahead by 7%
3) A tie
The only consistent thing in all the polling is that Ed's personal polling remains in the toilet whilst Dave soars ahead.
I thought I might go up to him and say "Can I have your autograph David?"
"We keep reading about 'the strength of the Labour brand" and how "Tories are toxic"
Today's YouGov:
Lab vs Con:
Kind of society it wants broadly kind of society I want: -2
Led by people of real ability: -13
Prepared to take tough/unpopular decisions: -34
Seems to chop & change: -13"
Doesn't that prove how strong the Labour brand is again the Tories? All those negative scores and yet it still manages to be level on voting intention?
The other thing that backs up your analysis is the spread prices.
The key point to grasp is that Tory toxicity is a defence not condemnation of Conservative policies. Look at your figures -- if the Conservatives have the best policies, the best leaders, or the best whatevers, then they ought to have a lead in the polls. That they do not is then put down to toxicity. It means you do not need to change your policies, just fix the marketing.
http://itar-tass.com/en/world/771506
http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/girl-can-sport-england-launches-4977251
Was going to watch Question Time, but a few minutes of listening to Mehdi Hasan's bullshit* persuaded me it'd only be irritating.
Not sure that drawing looks like Farage.
*He compared Mohammed cartoons to farting in a lift, ie not illegal just rude. Except that nobody confines you in a small space and rubs your face in a magazine. If you don't want to see Mohammed's cartoons you can just avoid the magazine. The equivalent to farting in a lift would be waving it around in a Muslim's face or invading a home/mosque and pasting it onto the walls.
Taken £50 on the Tories in Pompey North - looks a sound enough bet on your analysis and could do with another decent Tory punt.
If Dave is so great then why does he have the same leadership ratings as the supposedly 'divisive' Farage?
"I will be within 100 yards of Ed Miliband today."
Social climber
I don't know if she was right in 2013 or right now. What I do know is in 2013 the media tore the coalition a new one while lining up Labour telling us the world was about to end. Today ....... Nothing? Not a peep? Not even a passing reference and no Labour figures on our screens welcoming this good news.
Quelle surprise.
Lab now 1.98 Con 2.04
The LAB 2.00 was excellent value IMO
So put it this way why is Farage polling behind Cameron?
You're entirely right about media coverage being nonsense, however. It's depressing.
I sometimes think we have a more accurate picture of the past than the present. Imagine the news, presented by Polybius, Thucydides and Ammianus Marcellinus! [Hopefully with English subtitles].
I'm making progress.
Why does the Telegraph employ him?
I think bigging up the raw deal for the Greens meant it was always going to be six of one (Cameron) and half a dozen of the other (Miliband) on who was "frit". With the LibDems keeping their heads down in case people start saying "oi, Clegg - hang on a minute - what you doing there?"
"I was once sat opposite Caroline Flint on the train."
Smarten yourself up a bit and you could find yourself on a taxi rank that Esther McVey once stood at
http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-forgotten-creed/#more-65567
It's part of a set of pieces from the latest Wings poll.
Outside Scotland, the next election boils down to voters answering this question: what would Labour do better than this lot? In essence - Labour- why would you take the risk? To my mind Labour has not made that case. Nowhere near. They have had over four years to do so and now have less than four months to dream up something. I thought it very telling on QT last night that when Anna Soubry was saying we needed to carry on clearing up the mess created by Labour, Wee Dougie just sat there without response. And this is the guy who has been at the heart of framing Labour's election campaign. Hmmmm....
Surely a better analysis would peg the leader rating to the party VI then compare?
For example in January 2010, Nick Clegg led David Cameron on the leader ratings by 13%, despite the Lib Dems trailing the Tories by 24% in the VI.
There are other examples.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30842676
The Tories have been accused of attempting split Labour's vote after an MP urged a constituent to back the Green Party.
Ed Miliband’s team fear an email from Jason McCartney, the Tory MP for Colne Valley, to a voter opposed to austerity, telling her the Green candidate who is the “only candidate who matches what you believe”, is evidence of a broader attempt to divide left-wing voters.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/green-party/11349877/Is-this-evidence-of-a-Tory-plot-to-split-Labours-vote-MP-tells-voter-to-back-the-Greens.html
As a related aside, do pollsters actually ask those who they poll "are you actually registered to vote in the General Election?" If so, what proportion say no? If they don't - why ever not?
"This is also, in its way, relevant - suggesting that both parties have it badly wrong:
http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-forgotten-creed/#more-65567
It's part of a set of pieces from the latest Wings poll."
Very interesting. I'm sure that those attitudes won't be unfamiliar to Miliband which makes his reluctance to take a lead on anything so inexplicable.
But as that polling exists, the 'meh' get out doesn't work
I'm sure Ed's inner Socialist would agree with those policies - just his outer politician wants to get elected & knows there is no where near enough money to pay for re-nationalisation of the utilities & national rail.....
I'm a bit embarrassed about the last one.
For shame, Sean, For shame.
On the point I have quoted, the question that arises in my head is: who are you betting against?
The risk for you would be that there is a shrewd punter with relevant local knowledge.
Mind you, the Conservative policy to set fire to the internet is hardly a model of intellectual rigour.
Put it this way, I do a lot if work on analysing goalscorers worth to their team. In England obviously Costa and Aguero are the top scorers and most likely winners of golden boot, but in terms of worth to their team, Austin and Bony (when at Swansea) have much better ratings.
There are similar patterns all across European football.. In Germany the value isn't with the top scorers like Lewsndowski but with players who get big % of their teams goals like Alexandre Meier of Berlin
So it is worth pegging leader ratings to party VI I think to avoid giving a false impression
Ask about how these things should be paid for (SSE has a market cap of ~15bn on it's own) and you get different answers.
It's crappy polling because it doesn't ask a balanced question, total waste of money. But it's not being done to gather information, it's done to try and influence the debate
Messi score more goals than Charlie Austin, but that doesn't mean his worth to Barca is more than austins to QPR because barca score more goals and create more chances. If you ignore that you'd miss out on value bets,
READING WEST would be well worth doing I think.
Any country that votes 45% for the SNP is by definition very different from the one across the border (though admittedly the latter lot are not allowed to vote for a comparable set of policies).
Have a look at this -
http://wingsoverscotland.com/a-united-kingdom/#more-65499
More to come, anyway.