As posted a couple of weeks ago the next PB gathering has been arranged for this coming Friday starting at 6.30pm at the historic Dirty Dicks pub in Bishopsgate – just across the road from the main entrance to Liverpool Street station.

This is the first time that we’ve arranged an event for a Friday evening and I know that several PBers from around the country will be heading for London.

The get together takes place at the back of the pub on the first floor where Fat Steve, once again, has arranged a dedicated area.

A Scottish event? I’m going to be in Glasgow in mid-September and it would be great if we could arrange something similar there on, possibly Monday September 16th. Any thoughts please email me here.

Mike Smithson

For the latest polling and political betting news

Follow @MSmithsonPB

Join us to get first news of what’s happening

From tomorrow there will be a new feature on the site – The PB Thursday Local Elections Special.

This will provide a focus for the council by-elections that take place on many Thursdays when real voters cast real votes in real elections.

I know, many current PBers have a fund of knowledge in this area and do, already feed in information.

A briefing, written by Harry Hayfield, on the seats at stake on the day together with previous results to put them into context, will be published mid-evening.

To hold it all together Marf has created a special carton which will become the logo for this feature.

All local by-elections are of course local and each has special features and points of interest. Hopefully Harry’s headers and the expert contributions on the thread will add to all our understanding of what’s going on.

See you tomorrow night.

Mike Smithson

For the latest polling and political betting news

Follow @MSmithsonPB

Across

1. Bishop is ultimately ridiculed – described by Cameron unfairly as man holding a stick and wearing fancy dress (6,6)

8. Right away Blair stopped one Labour source of wealth (3,4)

9. Physicist has wager in play (7)

11. Society rejected by European like Johnson (7)

12. Metal small safe holds money (7)

13. President’s film broadcast (5)

14. Old province where art is destroyed by wanton, heartless vandals (9)

16. Give elector an alternative (9)

19. Live down under (5)

21. George III was sometimes lacking a nautical bent (7)

23. Secular ground for judicial disqualification (7)

24. More audible version doesn’t start with one remix (7)

25. Lotus position held by socialist boss on Tyneside (7)

26. He was shot and needed adrenal organ transplant (6,6)

Down

1. Climber may wind round internally (7)

2. One time Democrat first to be restricted by Home Secretary’s further changes (2-5)

3. Throw cuts into rotten borough (9)

4. The common people’s protests (5)

5. They steal some money (7)

6. Vote for Republican opposing a tragedy (7)

7. Outrageous “St.John Special” caught out Georgian (6,6)

10. King slow in reacting to leader of the government (6,6)

15. President Mandela’s party runs before start of election in unusual behaviour (9)

17. Spot betting index slowly introduced (7)

18. Nastier version of intoxicant (7)

19. Journal circulated a hundred thousand in outstanding work (7)

20. Lamont misses nothing as badly as Number 11 (4,3)

22. Balls on dog are made better! (5)

Thanks to StJohn for once again compiling this. This has become very much of a PB tradition.

A special offer for PB party attendees

A week tomorrow it’s the next PB gathering at the Dirty Dicks pub which is across the road from Liverpool Street station.

I’ll be bringing with me some of the remaining copies of my 2007 book, The Political Punter, which is now out of print. It is a bit old bit but the basic principles stay the same.

If anybody would like one please email me in advance. All I ask is that you make a donation to the site.

There will be a limit in the number I’ll be able to carry so please let me know in advance.

@MikeSmithsonOGH

A new online poll by ComRes for the Indy on Sunday and Sunday Mirror has the following shares with changes on the last such poll in August .

Con 38% (-) Lab 38% (-2) LD 11% (-) Others 13% (+2)

So another pollster has Labour slipping back.

Only YouGov now has Labour in the 40s.

In other findings : Only 23% agree Lib Dems have “done a good job of moderating Conservative policies” – Only 24% agree Lib Dems a “credible party of government” as a result of the Coalition

Sorry for the rather sparse post – I’m on a train and do not have my PC

@MikeSmithsonPB

Marin Coxall

Marf and Marquee Mark

David Kendrick and Peter the Punter

James Burdett, ??, Max and Martin Coxall

If I’ve got any names wrong or you can fill in the blanks then please post it below.

Welcome to Henry G Manson

I am pleased to report that Henry G has accepted an invitation join the PB team and will from this weekend have a regular slot.

Henry is a long-standing Labour activist in the North East who has been sharing his insights on the site for several years. It was his posts last August that prompted a lot of PBers to get on Ed Miliband for the Labour leadership when could decent price were available. He’s also pretty good on tennis tips.

As well as politics Henry is gambler who is able to look at things from the betting perspective irrespective of what he himself would like.

Welcome aboard.

Mike Smithson

PB’s occasional cartoonist, Marf, has an exhibition opening at the Guildhall Gallery in the City of London today. Amongst the works included are many that first appeared on this site.

As has already been announced there will be a special gathering on Monday April 18th from 4pm at the gallery. That’s the day of the next PB party at the Dirty Dicks public house opposite Liverpool Street station.

I’m travelling today and am not following the news or the threads.

Mike Smithson