Archive for ConservativeHome
Only 3% swing to Tories in key Con/Lib Dem marginals
The detailed polling by Lord Ashcroft published today on ConservativeHome brings some encouraging news for the Liberal Democrats. In a set of key marginals held by the Conservatives and where the Liberal Democrats were second in 2010, there has only been a modest swing to the Conservatives since May 2010. In the eight seats polled, [...]
An old Liberal Democrat policy rides again courtesy of Iain Duncan Smith (UPDATED)
Unusual political times indeed courtesy of the front page of today’s Times. For a long time a central part of Liberal Democrat welfare policy was to integrate and simplify the tax and benefits system. The policy faded away from the party’s priorities, partly because the details were never that straightforward; for example, how do you [...]
No panic here, nothing to see, move along
Two different stories today, unconnected in one way but both – particularly when put together – speaking volumes for the current state of the Conservative Party. Obviously, panic or disagreements are in no way involved. Not at all.
First we have ConservativeHome’s take on the party starting to use YouGov in addition to Populus:
Up until now [...]
How the internet is changing British politics – and what 2010 will bring
In February 2010 I gave this talk as part of the “Distinguished Practitioners Series” at Nottingham University: The four audiences for online political campaigning The internal audience for online politics Recruiting and motivating supporters Reaching the media via online politics Reaching the public through online political campaigning Different styles of communication Conclusion Good afternoon, and [...]
ConservativeHome indulges in a bit of self-caricature over Boris Johnson
ConservativeHome has published a list of 100 achievements of Boris Johnson as Mayor of London saying, “He is bringing tangible benefits to Londoners.” Several of the major items on the list are highly questionable but the best is number 27, which I quote in full: The Queen’s portrait unveiled in City Hall. A cynic might [...]
What does the future hold for British political blogging?
Mark Pack poses the question ... Predictions that the next general election will be the one in which the internet will make a huge impact have regularly come and gone. Post-Obama ready yourself for another such clutch of predictions, but underneath this punditry froth the internet has got on with quietly shifting the way politics works. It’s been more at the unglamorous organisational end (imagine trying to organise a campaign without email) than at the eye-catching systems-shattering dramatic end beloved of pundits, but it’s been a major change nonetheless.
William Hague’s sideswipe at Alan Duncan
Over at ConservativeHome they’ve got an interview with William Hague, in which he makes this comment about Have I Got News For You:
I took the view that appearing on it is not compatible with being on the Front Bench.
Now, who’s recently appeared on that show? His fellow Conservative front bencher, Alan Duncan. Oops.
Or maybe not [...]
Staying in the loop
November’s edition of Total Politics carries the following piece from me about finding information on the internet. Here’s a slightly extended version of the piece: There is no shortage of information out there, but getting what you need, when you need it can be a challenge, particularly when your inbox, mailbag, radio and TV are all thrusting [...]
