Final polls forecast big losses for Brown

[Morris Onions]

Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown joins London Mayor Ken Livingstone on the campaign trail at the Singh Sabha East London. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Gordon Brown is heading for crushing reverses on Thursday night and will see Ken Livingstone swept from the London mayoralty, according to two final polls before the local elections published yesterday.

The projections would mean Labour would lose more than 200 council seats in England and Wales. The news came as the prime minister finally apologised for abolishing the 10p tax rate, as did the justice secretary, Jack Straw.

Campaigning in the north-west, Brown was asked if he was sorry that the changes had been botched. He replied: "It's unfortunate when things go wrong for people and we've tried to sort that out immediately over the last few days."

Straw went further, telling a radio phone-in caller: "Sometimes even with the best brains available to government there are inadvertent consequences of changes. We put our hands up to that we should have known more about the impact of the abolition of the 10p rate." He added: "I am sorry that this has happened."

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/apr/29/london08.london


The vultures are circling.

[non sociopath skin]

1. However, the article adds ...

In a final poll for the London mayoral race, released yesterday, Boris Johnson is predicted by YouGov to sweep to power. Voters' first preference shares put Johnson on 46% (up 2%) and Livingstone 35% (down 2). The Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick is on 12%. After second preferences are taken into account, YouGov predicts a 55% to 45% victory for Johnson.

This leaves the internet pollster totally at odds with MORI and MRUK, which have recently reported that Livingstone is narrowly in the lead.

So there's hope for The Smoke yet ....

:evilgrin:

The Skin

[Morris Onions]

2. Indeed, the pollsters appear split...

the bookies however (more reliable in my experience) are not...

http://www.willhill.com/iibs/EN/buildcoupon.asp?couponchoice=PO1756158

http://www.coral.co.uk/sbuk.go?page=grouppage&groupid=142657&lang=20&sid=20&ms=&type=0

http://www.ladbrokes.com/lbr_portal

[non sociopath skin]

3. You're very dog-ged in pursuit of a Johnson victory, MO

... but do you really think it'll make Britannia any freer?

:evilgrin:

The Skin

[Morris Onions]

4. Not at all Skinny, I'm just being a realist...

and the reality is that it does look as if Ken's all washed up.

He'll just have to bear it. Perhaps it's for the best.

:)

[non sociopath skin]

5. As I have said before, I don't hold a torch for Ken and am not blind to his faults ...

... my main concern in all this is Johnson who is patently unfit, tempermentally and experientially, for the job.

It's rather like Hartlepool voting for the Monkey Man. Except that the Monkey Man actually turned out to be reasonably competent - and Hartlepool is a lot smaller and less complex that London.

The Skin

(BTW Skinhead I am - Skinny I'm not! If only!!!! :evilgrin: It's the Workie Ticket I blame!!!!)

[non sociopath skin]

6. I see we're already setting up the spin for who to blame if yer man wins ...

.... and starts screwing up.

http://freebritannia.6.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=8899

I am sure that Johnson is quite capable of his own scorched earth policy for Inner London without any help from the Government. :evilgrin:

The Skin

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Heh, talking of Guido Fawkes ...

Blogger 'Guido Fawkes' is led off to the Tower

Lobbyists, aides and parliamentarians from all sides of the Houses – particularly those with something to hide – will be delighted to learn that the famously thirsty troublemaker, real name Paul Staines, was up before the beak at Tower Bridge Magistrates Court last Thursday.

He admitted driving while under the influence and without insurance after being stopped by the Plod in the small hours of 17 April, driving his wife's Volkswagen fast and swerving across lanes in south London. He was breathalysed and found to be almost twice the legal limit. Asked by District Judge Timothy Stone whether he had an alcohol problem, Staines said: "Possibly."

Sentencing is on 15 May. It is his fourth alcohol-related offence and second drink-driving reprimand – he was banned for 12 months in 2002 – requiring the judge to consider a jail sentence.

"I had been speaking at the Adam Smith Institute," Guido explains. "They have made a lot of money so the booze is usually pretty good. I moved on with a few people to the Westminster Arms, where I bought drinks, and then to the Kennington Tandoori to show everyone the picture of Prezza on the wall. Then I was giving a few people a lift to Victoria station when the fuckers pulled me over."

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-dave-gets-shirty-over-order-to-undress-818060.html

[Morris Onions]

9. lol

lolololololol!

[Morris Onions]

8. Interesting site that...

but Jeeze, that Bulldog fellas a dodgy one ain't he! :eyes:

[non sociopath skin]

10. Aye, you're a rum 'un, Dog.

The Skin

[Morris Onions]

11. When're you coming back?

[non sociopath skin]

16. To your site? Sorry, BD. Got other priorities besides shagging alligators and the Orthodox Church ..

... line on burning homosexuals!

The Skin

[LeftishBrit]

12. Unfortunately , it wouldn't be just Ken who would have to bear it; it would be all the Londoners

And while I'm tempted to say, even as an ex-Londoner, that they deserve it if they are idiots enough to vote for Boris - really NO ONE could deserve a prat like Boris as mayor.

I can't even imagine an alternative universe where Boris could be 'for the best'.

[LeftishBrit]

13. Actually my Londoner Mum did suggest a silver lining

"Boris will mess things up in London so badly, that he may help to cost the Tories the General Election."

[non sociopath skin]

14. I fear that, as during the election ...

.... Boris will be under house arrest and others will be parachuted in to do the actual running of the city.

The Skin

[Mr Creosote]

15. That's alright

they'll still be Tory fuck ups won't they?