Comments on: YouGov show Tory lead remaining at 13 points

By: Seal Pup

Seal Pup — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:13:37 +0000

…actually that would apply equally to the world of politics too!

By: Seal Pup

Seal Pup — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:12:21 +0000

“Chris
“Bohemians are way too unorthodox to appreciate te value of the nationa state?”
Far too intelligent to take in tabloid sensationalism, more like.
The Mail and The Sun don’t target you with their loony sovereignty claims, because they respect your intelligence.
You’re just mailable”

No Chris, they’re all full of sh!t – just different flavours (I used to work in the glittering world of newspapers… it’s about as cynical a world as you can imagine – no, more!)

By: Seal Pup

Seal Pup — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:10:12 +0000

“This is the first YouGov survey since the monthly economic figures which, rather surprisingly, did not show Britain emerging from recession. I was intrigued to see what the effect would be on the economic optimism figures – the answer is pretty much none. 22% expect things to get better over the next 12 months, 37% worse – virtually unchanged from the last two months.”

Aye… I’ve always said this is a long one, and every bod genuinely in know who comes on the radio seems to back that up… details as to why would constitute a major digression from the topic, however!

Buckle up, this is the calm before the storm!

By: Danny Boy

Danny Boy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:05:07 +0000

Cameron going back on his promise over the Lisbon Treaty would only be a gift for the Labour party if they had a leader who the electorate took seriously. Brown should be landing some big hits, but the country’s deep rooted dislike for him wont allow it to happen. Maybe people haven’t been bowled over by David Cameron’s brilliance, but the writing is on the wall for Brown.
In Hollywood sized lettering.
Part of David Cameron’s problem is the voters reluctance to get fooled as easily as 1997, but anybody who thinks he is going to lose any serious ground over issues like this are guilty of a touch of straw-clutching.
The days of any party scoring above 45% in the polls are over, but the Conservative lead remains consistent.
Damage limitation the order of the day for Labour.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:04:18 +0000

Reading forums, and message boards, and paper reaction, I would be amazed if Cameron didn’t get a permanent hit in the polls because of his back tracking.

Just because a lot of people’s reason for backing the guy was his “cast iron” promise.

The big issue is the connotations of the situation. The man has gone from being “mr dependable” on europe, to no better than Tony Blair.

He was on a short leash with trust anyway, in the electorate. He’s a decent “alternate” candidate, but many people wondered whether he was just another wishy washy Blair, making promises he had no intention of keeping.

I think the fact that he only has a 13 point lead, over a party seeking a 4th term in parliament, during a recession, with Gordon Brown as your opponent, speaks volumes on the publics waryness on the guy.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:00:21 +0000

” Scepticism – A very sensible & neccessary state of being.”

Funny how the trashy tabloids are the only real sceptics then. And intelligent papers don’t bother with it.

I actually thought “sceptics” just equal maliable minds. People that accept the sensationalism of the subject as fact

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:57:52 +0000

“@Trevorsden – “Cameron is not regaining on a promise – He always said they would hold a referendum if there was an election and the treaty not ratified.””

He never said “not ratified”. His actual words were that there would be a referendum, no matter the “outcome of the Treaty talks”.

His argument is that “treaty” describes an unratified bill. So he wasn’t lying.

Just like Brown said that his promise was only for a referendum on a “constitution” and not a “treaty”

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:55:47 +0000

“Bohemians are way too unorthodox to appreciate te value of the nationa state?”

Far too intelligent to take in tabloid sensationalism, more like.

The Mail and The Sun don’t target you with their loony sovereignty claims, because they respect your intelligence.

You’re just mailable

By: Alec

Alec — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:37:15 +0000

@Trevorsden – “Cameron is not regaining on a promise – He always said they would hold a referendum if there was an election and the treaty not ratified.”
This is factually incorrect – Cameron did not make any such distinction, which is why this turn of events is embarrasing. Personally, I doubt this in itself will have much direct impact on the polls, although it might push a few UKIP inclined voters not to support him. I believe the more significant impact will be a general sense of devaluing brand Cameron. Even though this was the only sensible course of action at this point in time, he now potentially comes across as slippery and evasive, with a liability to break promises. This is something Labour can work on, as it chimes with the polling areas where people still have doubts about him.
I have said previously many times that I do not rate Cameron’s strategic abilities and many months ago predicted exactly this outcome on the Lisbon treaty. Along with the new political grouping in Brussels it was born out of a short term tactical manouvere for Cameron’s personal election campaign, and was ill thought through and a strategic blunder. If Labour can regain some initiative on economic affairs (big if) the story of the Lisbon debacle will be an additional arrow of subtle potency for Labour to fire at Cameron. Labour’s task from here on in is simply to sow doubts about Cameron’s judgement and abilities and hope for the best – a poor decision three years ago has just helped them in that task, and there will be more to come.

By: king harold

king harold — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:31:19 +0000

I agree with my learned friends who believe the Tories will not be damaged by this to any significant extent. It is not a question of
Cameron saying “oh we have changed our minds Europe is wicked”. The circumstances are beyond Camerons control, and I think this will be understood. Holding a referendum would only give final proof as to how the British people actually feel.