A poll carried out exclusively for Lib Dem Voice shows that opposition from the Daily Mail, The Sun and Daily Telegraph to the Liberal Democrats actually makes people more likely to vote for the party.
Asked the impact on their voting intention of those papers opposing Nick Clegg becoming Prime Minister, 15% said it made them more likely to vote Liberal Democrat and only 4% said it made them less likely, making for a net +11% saying they are more likely …
The Institute for Fiscal Studies today delivered its Election Briefing 2010 verdict. We’ve looked at what it says about Lib Dem policies, and publish relevant extracts, below – highlighting both the positive aspects, and those where the IFS says the Lib Dems are lacking.
But if you don’t have time to read even our filleted version, here’s the filleted fillet:
In terms of reducing the deficit, the Tories will cut public spending most, Labour least; while Labour will increase taxes most, the Tories least. The Lib Dems are in the middle when it comes both to public spending cuts and tax increases.
As it stands Labour will have to find a further £7bn of tax increases in the next five years; the Tories will have to reverse half their announced £6bn tax cuts; while the Lib Dems will not have to go beyond what is already set out in the party’s manifesto.
Under either the Lib Dems or Labour public spending cuts in the next five years will have to be the most severe in a generation. Under the Tories the cuts would be the most severe in modern history.
No party has set out how it will tackle the deficit in full: the Lib Dems have gone furthest in being open and honest with voters, identifying over 25% of measures needed, ahead of either the Tories (17%) or Labour (13%).
The IFS does not believe there is a black hole in the Lib Dems’ tax reforms, and states that they are “progressive”.
The Lib Dem proposal to take all those earning under £10,000 out of income tax will be a better work incentive than the Tories’ proposed NI tax cut.
Only the Lib Dems have been clear about dedicating a £2.5 billion pupil premium to help pupils poor enough to be eligible for free school meals. The Tories’ pledge is labelled “unclear” by the IFS, while Labour is accused of re-badging existing money.
It’s wonderful news that so many people have given what they can to help the Lib Deme election campaign, taking on the might of the Labservatives‘ vested interests of the trade unions and big business.
Why not make a donation to the Lib Dems today to show your support, and help change the course of british politics?
By Stephen Tall | Published 30th April 2010 - 8:15 pm
Three programmes, four-and-a-half hours of debate, endless analysis – but one thing’s for sure: Nick Clegg is alone among the three leaders in being able to reflect on them with real pleasure.
David Cameron and the Tories are buoyed by his performance yesterday; understandably so, as most instant polls called it a ‘win’ for him. But three weeks ago the Tories were polling in the 36-39% range, with most pundits predicting a narrow-but-decisive Tory majority. Currently, just a few days before polling day, the Tories are stuck in the 33-36% range.
Perhaps more significant, though is the way Cameron has had to re-write his script during this campaign. Tory advisors hoped it would be enough for their leader to portray himself as the only alternative to Gordon Brown. But then along came ‘Cleggmania’ and suddenly Cameron looked old hat: the mantle of change was snatched away from him by a more dynamic rival. With ratings dipping, the Tories’ answer was familiar enough: turn to the right.
And that’s exactly what Cameron has done. In the third debate last night, he showed the authentic face of Toryism: anti-European, anti-immigrant, anti-welfare. No wonder he looked more comfortable, and no wonder the Tory tribe was smiling today. At long last, their leader had ditched any pretence of building a big-tent mainstream party, and was reverting to the party’s comfort zone, shoring up its core vote.
But of this I am certain: that right-wing c.2005 Michael Howard display from Cameron last night was absolutely not where he wanted to be at this stage of the campaign.
General election 2010: The liberal moment has come
If the Guardian had a vote it would be cast enthusiastically for the Liberal Democrats. But under our discredited electoral system some people may – hopefully for the last time – be forced to vote tactically
We can certainly commend them on their decision, and my headline shows my surprise at them taking this bold step. I think many people were expecting …
By Helen Duffett | Published 30th April 2010 - 6:40 pm
This Party Election Broadcast is much simpler than the first, with Nick Clegg doing a “talking head” for all but 20 seconds of it. The pared-down message is that the Liberal Democrats are different, and that voters have a choice.
The brief opening sequence is a montage of Lib Dem supporters saying,
This is my election. It isn’t up to politicians to decide who wins; it’s up to me.
Don’t tell me there are only two parties. And I choose something different this time.
My vote will make a difference.
By Mark Pack | Published 30th April 2010 - 4:20 pm
There have been two further recent reports of police investigations into postal vote allegations:
Police to investigate claims of postal vote fraud in council poll
… A complaint has been sent by the Conservative party to Derbyshire police about suspected fraud in the Sinfin ward in the Derby City Council local elections – which will be held on May 6, the same day as the General Election.
The complaint involves concerns that a voter was approached by men requesting her to fill in and sign three postal voting forms in favour of the Labour party… (Derby Telegraph)
By Mark Pack | Published 30th April 2010 - 3:10 pm
Until earlier this week it would have seemed a good idea to use the day before the final party leaders’ debate to launch the leaders’ answers to YouTube’s Digital Debate questions. Gordon Brown, a live mike and the word “bigot” rather buried the whole story which is a shame as the questions and answers explore a range of issues beyond the well-trodden ground of most of the mainstream media coverage.
You can watch the answers over at http://www.youtube.com/ukelection – and in particular look out for Nick Clegg’s very strong answer on the Digital Economy Bill question.
By Mark Pack | Published 30th April 2010 - 12:50 pm
… goes to West Sussex Conservative County Councillor Pete Bradbury who has emailed round to other councillors (Lib Dem and Conservative) complaining that there are too many posters being put up in his patch.
Far be it from me to suggest that the cause of the complaint can be explained by adding the words “Liberal Democrat” in front of “posters”…
By Mark Pack | Published 30th April 2010 - 10:20 am
Political Scrapbook has the story:
The election is providing no shortage of time-lapse gaffes, where online activity of some vintage has come back to haunt candidates and activists alike. It’s no surprise that Stuart Penketh, the Conservative candidate for Ellesmere Port and Neston, tried to delete his Grey Funnel Line blog.
When not describing third-world debt relief as “letting tyrants off the hook”, it seemed Penketh used his blog to sling around racist insults. Likening the town of Radcliffe in Greater Manchester to war-torn Vietnam, Penketh uses the word “gook”, a derogatory term for South-East Asians:
By Stephen Tall | Published 30th April 2010 - 1:00 am
All the post-debate polls are in, and four out of five are giving David Cameron a win, with Clegg tied in first place in one, and in second place in three. Brown is last in all but one:
YouGov: Cameron 41%, Clegg 32%, Brown 25%.
ComRes: Cameron 35%, Clegg 33%, Brown 26%.
Populus: Cameron 38%, Clegg 38%, Brown 25%.
ICM: Cameron 35%, Clegg 27%, Brown 29%.
Angus Reid: Cameron 36%, Clegg 30%, Brown 23%.
Well, I guess seeing as Clegg was judged to have won the first two debates it was only fair that Cameron should have a consolation prize
For me, it was a score draw, and I do wonder how far the narrow win for Cameron in the post-debate polls reflects more settled party preferences. As Andrew Rawnsley tweeted:
Early post-debate polls (DC 1, NC 2, GB 3) reflecting party positions in national polls. Minds being made up?
It was certainly a better, more convincing performance from Cameron than in his first (disastrous) performance, or his second improved debate. Brown was less good tonight than in earlier debates – relatively speaking, I mean – less empathetic, more dogmatic, still just as tired.
Clegg was under attack far more than in the first debate, but withstood the pressure well; his continuing calls for parties to work together better resonates with the public far more than it does with cynical politicos and hacks.
By Alex Foster | Published 29th April 2010 - 8:15 pm
Welcome to Lib Dem Voice’s coverage of the third televised debate between the three main party leaders, an event perhaps even more keenly anticpated than last week’s inaugural debate – though the viewing figures will almost certainly be fewer. As last week, we’re co-hosting live-chat, below, simultaneously with the Mark Reckons blog.
By David Lawson | Published 29th April 2010 - 6:18 pm
So much of the attack on the Lib Dems is based on the idea that we are a “sell out” to Europe. That we won’t stand up for Britain – though it often really means England. This attack has – to us at least – the slight feel of the American survivalist right criticising the US Democrats for selling out to a UN-based “world government”. In other words: it’s nonsense.
But that is an argument to be settled by details. We should also make a positive case. Of course we could have said patriot but let’s go the whole way: why should a nationalist vote Lib Dem? This has been especially relevant following the foreign policy debate which the other parties have seen as the best attack on the Lib Dems.
The two-party system sets up a contest of opposites and then lets one of them win.
For decades those opposites were based on class interests with a sharp north-south regional divide and a simple conflict between capitalism and socialism. What nationalists want is a nation divided – by class or by region or by any other sectarianism.
By Alex Foster | Published 29th April 2010 - 4:35 pm
Twitter has come alive in the last two hours with tweets and retweets of Labour’s new media Tsarina Kerry McCarthy, who appears to have attended a postal vote opening session in her constituency of Bristol East – and then tweeted her tally totals.
Just to be clear, this is illegal. You should not do it. If you are attending postal vote processing sessions or are an agent yourself, please make sure your entire team knows that anything you learn at that session cannot be shared.
By Mark Pack | Published 29th April 2010 - 3:20 pm
The latest round of election donations published by the Electoral Commission have seen a much more accurate set of media reports than previous figures.
As I’d previously pointed out the figures published by the Electoral Commission are far from comprehensive as they exclude small donations and also all donations, of any size, given directly to candidates. However the media reports have previously treated the figures for declarable donations given to parties as if they were actual donation totals.
This time round though, helped by the Commission making its news release (even) clearer, the media has mostly got it right. Who …
All the main parties have promised to cut the government’s deficit after the election. Which party do you think is being the most honest about what spending cuts they would make to deliver this?
Liberal Democrats 29%
Conservatives 26%
Labour 21%
Gordon Brown was challenged on Wednesday morning by Gillian Duffy, a 65-year-old voter in Rochdale. Mrs Duffy complained about taxation for pensioners, immigration from eastern Europe and students’ tuition fees. At the end of the televised encounter, Mr Brown told her ‘it was very nice to meet you’. But when he got into his car, Mr
The secrecy surrounding Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) has concerned me and many of my constituents as it has many MEPs. As a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade, I met the European Commission in early March to discuss the unacceptable level of secrecy in which these negotiations are shrouded, and demanded that we in the European Parliament, as the only directly elected representatives of the public at European level, be given immediate access to the final draft of the consolidated negotiating text. You can view my question here.
Following severe criticism from myself and a number of my …
By Mark Pack | Published 29th April 2010 - 9:20 am
So reports PoliticsHome:
A majority of the public believe that the current voting system is unfair, and that it is now time to start thinking seriously about alternatives, according to new PoliticsHome research.
57% of voters said that the current system of voting in the current system is either ‘very unfair’ or ‘generally unfair’, compared to 39% who think it is fair…
In a further indication that voters are dissatisfied with the current electoral system, voters believe that it is more important for an electoral system to reflect the proportion of votes cast nationwide than to produce a clear winner.
By Mark Pack | Published 29th April 2010 - 8:50 am
The letters page in today’s Guardian includes this:
This is an extraordinary political moment. An election seemingly destined to produce a narrow Conservative victory has been seized by the voters and turned into a democratic contest – a contest not just between parties, but over the shape of our democracy itself.
The MPs that assemble in Westminster next month could usher in one of the great reforming parliaments in British history, one to rank in the history books alongside 1831-32, 1865-67 or 1911-1914. The next parliament could see cherished progressive liberal aspirations realised: a proportional electoral system; wider and better-defended civil liberties; a
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Poll
Do you think we should abolish ‘politically restricted’ posts and allow public officials to become openly active in support of political parties if they want to?