General Election 2015: Here’s what people really think about the TV leaders debates in six charts March 8, 2015 1. Most people think they're a good thing 2. But the debates wouldn't sway votes for most Broken down by supporters, it wouldn't sway votes of most Conservatives and Ukipers, but would for Lib Dems. For Labour, it's almost equal for those who say it would help make their mind up and those who it [...]
Income tax rate 2015: Is an £11,000 personal tax-free allowance on the cards in Osborne’s Budget speech? March 8, 2015 The nation could be in for a treat and find more cash in their pocket from April as part of a pre-election tax pledge by the Conservatives and Lib Dems. George Osborne is planning to raise the tax-free allowance further in what could be the chancellor’s last ever budget, due to be announced in less [...]
General Election 2015: Miliband signs up to three debates, promises to face an empty chair if Cameron won’t attend March 7, 2015 Ed Miliband has promised to attend all three scheduled televised debates, with or without the Prime Minister. During a speech in Edinburgh, the Labour leader made it clear he was willing to debate, against an empty chair if necessary, whilst simultaneously refusing to be drawn on David Cameron’s challenge to rule out a coalition [...]
General Election 2015: Could the SNP support Labour? March 7, 2015 The Scottish National Party (SNP) has said it would support a minority Labour government, going some way to mitigating the impact of Labour’s apparent decline north of the border. Nicola Sturgeon’s party would support Labour, even if Ed Miliband and co. decided to keep the controversial Trident missile defence system. This was seen as a [...]
Debating debates and Mobile World Congress: Here’s what got us talking this week March 6, 2015 It was a landmark week for inter-species relations as a weasel, a woodpecker and a photographer joined forces to prove once and for all that yes, Animals of Farthing Wood could happen. Outside the animal kingdom, election campaigns gathered pace, with the debate over debates continuing to rage, while polls concluded, at various points, [...]
2015 General Election TV debates in doubt as scrapping over line-ups and schedules rumbles on March 5, 2015 A serious of election television debates between party leaders is looking increasingly unlikely, as the impasse between political parties and broadcasters deepens. On Wednesday, David Cameron made it clear that he didn’t want a one-on-one debate with Ed Miliband, just a week before the election. Later that evening, Downing Street head of communications Craig Oliver [...]
Would the failure to hold TV debates ahead of the election be a national embarrassment? March 5, 2015 Katie Ghose, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, says Yes Compared with other democracies, Britain has been extremely late to the party when it comes to TV debates. Voters around the world are used to hearing directly from party leaders in the run up to an election, and it gives them a chance to [...]
General Election 2015: Voters predict Conservative win as Labour support wanes March 5, 2015 The last raft of opinion polls have made happy reading for the Conservative Party. After weeks of level pegging, several polls have given the Tories a slight lead over Labour. The website electionforecast at its current prediction, forecasts a hung Parliament with the Conservatives as the largest party. However, with two months to go and [...]
General election 2015 interactive: Nigel Farage’s Ukip fighting fit on social media March 5, 2015 The election will be fought on the economy, on the NHS and maybe even on the beaches. But it will also be contested on social media, and it is here that Ukip is making a stand. Research from specialist marketing recruiter EMR has revealed what the makeup of the commons would look like if it [...]
Boris Johnson top choice for Tory leader among Londoners if Cameron fails to win General Election March 5, 2015 Boris Johnson is Londoners top pick for the next Tory leader if David Cameron fails to secure victory in May and the country is forced to go to the polls for a second time. The Tory Mayor enjoyed the support of 40 per cent of those who expressed a view. David Cameron had the support [...]