wgm's Blog
Gordon Brown and the next American President
wgm Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 07:11:36 PM GMT 
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Gordon Brown is well known for his fondness of US politics and for holidaying in the US, but as the Presidential primaries get underway, what would be his relationship with the next occupant of the White House?
Recovery?
wgm Mon Dec 31, 2007 at 06:51:39 PM GMT
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The final three polls of 2007 showed Labour's ratings up by 3/4%:
YouGov L: 35% (+4) C: 40% (-3) LD: 15% (-1)
ComRes L: 30% (+3) C: 41% (+1) LD: 16% (-2)
ICM: L: 34% (+4) C: 39% (-2) LD: 18% (-1)
Whilst holiday season polls can't be relied on, there is no immediate boost in the final poll for the Lib Dems after Clegg's election. If nothing else, it would seem that absent of bad media headlines Labour's ratings are not staying at the sub 30% level and seem to be rising again.
YouGov L: 35% (+4) C: 40% (-3) LD: 15% (-1)
ComRes L: 30% (+3) C: 41% (+1) LD: 16% (-2)
ICM: L: 34% (+4) C: 39% (-2) LD: 18% (-1)
Whilst holiday season polls can't be relied on, there is no immediate boost in the final poll for the Lib Dems after Clegg's election. If nothing else, it would seem that absent of bad media headlines Labour's ratings are not staying at the sub 30% level and seem to be rising again.
Are the police being used as a political weapon?
wgm Sun Dec 02, 2007 at 03:56:36 PM GMT
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The requests - by the Lib Dems over the Abrahams case and the SNP over the Alexander case - for the police to investigate Labour politicians over donations obviously mirrors the "cash for honours" enquiry last year.
The Tories and "big government".
wgm Sat Nov 24, 2007 at 03:55:46 PM GMT
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Much of the Conservative-leaning media has been trying to pin the blame for the HMRC discs loss as representative of cost-cutting mergers in the civil service, and there has been much "insider comment" about empty desks and staff under pressure.
However, we need to remember that at the last election Michael Howard and Oliver Letwin made much of their plans to cut "waste" from the burgeoning government bureaucracy - remember them walking throuh ranks of bowler-hatted and "faceless" cardboard civil servants? Daniel Finkelstein in The Times again makes the argument against "big government", saying in effect that the smaller government is, the fewer mistakes it can make (presumably leaving the private sector to do the work, and the mistakes, instead).
So what would a Conservative convernment do to prevent this from ever happening again (the Tories being uniquely able, of course, to prevent human error)? Would they de-merge HMRC and return the bureaucracy to it's previous size, outsource or do what they have always said they would - cut "big government" down to size?
However, we need to remember that at the last election Michael Howard and Oliver Letwin made much of their plans to cut "waste" from the burgeoning government bureaucracy - remember them walking throuh ranks of bowler-hatted and "faceless" cardboard civil servants? Daniel Finkelstein in The Times again makes the argument against "big government", saying in effect that the smaller government is, the fewer mistakes it can make (presumably leaving the private sector to do the work, and the mistakes, instead).
So what would a Conservative convernment do to prevent this from ever happening again (the Tories being uniquely able, of course, to prevent human error)? Would they de-merge HMRC and return the bureaucracy to it's previous size, outsource or do what they have always said they would - cut "big government" down to size?
MP and candidate websites
wgm Mon Nov 12, 2007 at 11:38:59 PM GMT
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I would be interested - as the person responsible for my MP and candidates' joint website - for any examples of good campaigning practice in Labour websites elsewhere. Any recommendations?
Ashcroft still not paying tax in the UK?
wgm Sat Nov 10, 2007 at 01:09:42 AM GMT
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If Lord Ashcroft is putting hundreds of thousands of pounds into Tory campaigns, why isn't he putting money into the UK exchequer?
It seems despite promises by William Hague that the Conservative's biggest donor would move back to the UK and pay income tax here, Ashcroft is still avoiding tax whilst pumping money into marginal seats.
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/story/0,,2208695,00.html
It seems despite promises by William Hague that the Conservative's biggest donor would move back to the UK and pay income tax here, Ashcroft is still avoiding tax whilst pumping money into marginal seats.
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/story/0,,2208695,00.html
Cameron steals Co-op ideals
wgm Thu Nov 08, 2007 at 07:04:00 PM GMT
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David Cameron today launched the Conservative Co-operative Movement, stealing policies on co-operative run schools launched by Ed Balls (a Labour Co-op MP) in September. It is an insult to Labour Co-op members and the broader co-operative movement for Cameron to suggest that the Conservative philosophy of "freeing the individual" and private profit is in any way compatible with the mutual philosophy that underpins co-operation.
Ming Campbell resigns
wgm Mon Oct 15, 2007 at 06:59:28 PM GMT
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Sir Menzies Campbell has resigned as leader of the Lib Dems. We have to hope that the Lib Dems will choose someone on the right of the Party, one of the "Orange bookers" to succeed him and draw back much of the lost Lib Dem vote which has aided Cameron's poll boost. Labour needs the Lib Dems to be contesting and holding seats where they and the Tories are the main challengers.
David Laws, Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne must be the main challengers.
David Laws, Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne must be the main challengers.
Govt to make incitement to gay hatred illegal
wgm Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 11:38:31 PM GMT
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Welcome news for LGBT Labour and CLPs like Brighton Kemptown who have been campaigning for incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexuality a crime.
Conservatives narrow the gap in three polls
wgm Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 09:58:06 PM GMT
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Three post Tory conference polls tonight:
YouGov C 36% L 40% LD 13
Populus C 36% L 39% LD 15
ICM C 38% L 38% LD 16
Undoubtedly boosted by policy announcements and a generally well-received speech, the Tories have not overtaken Labour, and the Lib Dems are squeezed even more. Should return to a six or seven point lead for Labour in a few days, and we have yet to see what polling on the leaders shows. Crucially Labour's private polling in the marginals will probably decide whether Gordon calls and election next week or not.
YouGov C 36% L 40% LD 13
Populus C 36% L 39% LD 15
ICM C 38% L 38% LD 16
Undoubtedly boosted by policy announcements and a generally well-received speech, the Tories have not overtaken Labour, and the Lib Dems are squeezed even more. Should return to a six or seven point lead for Labour in a few days, and we have yet to see what polling on the leaders shows. Crucially Labour's private polling in the marginals will probably decide whether Gordon calls and election next week or not.
MORI poll in the Observer
wgm Sat Sep 29, 2007 at 10:05:51 PM GMT
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Tomorrow's Observer puts Labour on 41% (-1) the Conservatives on 34% (no change) and the Lib Dems on 16% (+2), others 9%.
