Which polling company’s getting it right in the run-up to the mayoral elections? YouGov reckons Boris is miles ahead. ICM have it as neck-and-neck. And today Ipsos-MORI records a slender lead for Ken. According to their poll, the incumbent snares 41 percent of first preference votes, compared to 40 percent for Boris. When second preferences are allocated, Ken
As the Independent reports this morning, Boris has united with the other mayoral candidates in support of an amnesty for illegal immigrants – a move which goes against official Tory policy. ConservativeHome have the low-down from Team Boris on their man’s decision. Their view is that if illegal immigrants have been here for a long
Iain Martin is spot-on over at Three Line Whip. Kevin Rudd has shown Gordon Brown exactly how he should have handled the recent Olympic torch relay in London. Here’s what the Australian Prime Minster had to say yesterday on the security goons the Chinese brought with them: “We will not be having Chinese security forces or
Ok, so Fraser’s already mentioned Brown’s denial over the state of the economy. But this whopper that our Prime Minister just issued in an interview with Nick Robinson can’t go unmentioned: “Because we’ve got low inflation we can cut interest rates, because we have had low debt, we can afford to keep our public spending programme in
Both Boris and Ken have now released their first election broadcasts – you can watch them both below. Boris’s effort is more pared down, and for me that makes it more engaging and effective. What do CoffeeHousers think? Boris Ken
As always, Rachel Sylvester’s column in the Telegraph is essential reading. Today she writes of how divide, doubt and mistrust have permeated every level of the Government. In particular, this revelation jumped out at me: “Behind the scenes, things are even worse. With no clear direction from above, Cabinet ministers are at each other’s throats.
The Beijing Olympics are being overshadowed by the Tibet issue on every step of this ridiculous torch relay. And rightly so. Today it was Paris’ turn to get one over the sinister, shell-suited heavies. The opportunity was seized with relish. Protestors forced the torch to be extinguished three times, and the event was ultimately cut short. But
If you feel like an afternoon nap, then Labour’s first local election TV spot (see below) might help you drop off. If you stick through to the end, there are details of how to send questions through to Gordon Brown – a selection of which he’ll answer tonight. What will CoffeeHousers be asking our Dear Leader?
A few sites across the political blogosphere have already flagged up the newly-digitised Conservative Party Archive Poster Collection, but it deserves a Coffee House mention as well. I’d recommend you take the time to browse through all the 600-or-so posters they’ve got there. Here are a couple of golden-oldies that grabbed my eye – Team Cameron might want to bring them out
More great news for Boris today. Our Man notches up his biggest lead yet in the latest Evening Standard / YouGov poll; claiming 49 percent of first preference votes – whilst Ken languishes on 36 percent. That’s a hefty advantage of 13 percent, then. When second preference votes are allocated, Boris is on 56 percent, with Ken on 44 percent. These
There’s more trouble for Gordon Brown this morning over his decision to scrap the 10p tax rate for low-income earners. The Treasury Select committee – lead by the Labour MP John McFall – has the following to say: “The group of main losers from the abolition of the 10p rate of income tax – those
The Olympic torch passes through London today.
Another encouraging poll for Team Cameron today. The latest ICM / Sunday Telegraph poll puts the Tories on 43 percent (up 6 from last month); Labour on 32 percent (unchanged); and the Lib Dems on 18 percent (down 3). Below the headline figures, there’s some suggestion that the credit crunch is starting to hit people
The attacks against this Government are becoming angrier and more widespread by the day. Now a senior judge wades into the fray, blasting Labour for not preventing family breakdown. Here’s what he had to say: “We are experiencing a period of family meltdown whose effects will be as catastrophic as the meltdown of the ice caps … as
The expenses claims of nineteen MPs – including Blair, Brown and Cameron – have been released today. Nothing in breach of the rules, but still some cause for eyebrow-raising. For instance, John Prescott claimed £4,000 in 2003/04 for groceries (would it be cruel to say it showed?) And Blair had his TV license-fee paid for. Despite
Michael Heath’s illustration for our Brownies posts (so far we’ve covered Inflation and The Lisbon Treaty) deserves to be showcased. So here’s Brown the magician, in all his glory:
Here are Nick Clegg’s answers to the last five questions put forward by CoffeeHousers. For his first five responses click here. Q: MPs were already a devalued currency with the public following years of labour spin, expense fraud etc. Would you agree that their stock has diminished even further following the refusal of the government,
The Government’s released its short-list for ‘eco-town’ sites. Reading through it, the first thing that struck me was that they’re almost all in the middle of nowhere. Of course, that’s half the point. New towns have to be built on unspoilt land, so to speak. But the problem is that the Government’s also promoting these new towns
As James said earlier, things aren’t looking great for Gordon. And now – as Ben Brogan points out – our Prime Minister’s got a revolt on his hands. What makes this one particularly damaging is that it’s over matters economic. Says Brogan: “Bad news for Gordon. At last count 26 of his MPs have signed an
Here are Nick Clegg’s answers to the first 5 questions put forward by CoffeeHousers: Q: If the Lib Dems hold the balance of power in 2010, which Cabinet portfolios are you after, and who would fill them? – Peter A: That’s just not something I think about. The Liberal Democrats are an independent