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Month: August 2011

The overnight open thread in the PB Nighthawks Cafe

The overnight open thread in the PB Nighthawks Cafe

PB’s nightly open thread with the excellent illustration by Marf as its symbol is now into its second week and seems to be going well. There are now prints available of Marf’s spoof of the Edward Hopper classic Nighthawks Café. This is a limited edition, signed by Marf in full colour for £60. If you are interested contact her here. Things are just starting to hot up as the new political year beckons. @MikeSmithsonPB

Stand by for “Explosive revelations” from Alastair Darling

Stand by for “Explosive revelations” from Alastair Darling

Is this going to make Miliband’s task much harder? According to Atul Hatwal of Labour Uncut there are about to be some explosive revelations in Alastair Darling’s upcoming memoir:- He writes: “.Darling details the total breakdown in trust between the prime minister and chancellor. He singles out Ed Balls and Shriti Vadhera as key Brown lieutenants running what amounted to a shadow treasury operation within government. Brown’s demeanour was increasingly “brutal and volcanic”, mistrusting Darling to the extent that he…

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Is YouGov now coming into line?

Is YouGov now coming into line?

The latest YouGov daily poll for News International overnight had the Labour lead over the Tories at just 1% – the closest it’s been since January. This means that the gap between the main two parties at least brings it a bit closer to the latest from country’s most accurate pollster when tested against real elections, ICM. Last week, for the second month running, ICM had the Tories on 37% one point ahead of Labour on 36% – a poll…

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Tonight in the PB Nighthawks Cafe….

Tonight in the PB Nighthawks Cafe….

Marf tells me that prints of her spoof of the Edward Hopper classic Nighthawks Café are now available. This is a limited edition, signed by Marf in full colour for £60. The actual size is A4. If you are interested contact her here. Have a good night. @MikeSmithsonPB

What do you think will be the outcome of the next general election?

What do you think will be the outcome of the next general election?

Please vote in this special PB poll Putting aside your own party allegiance what do you think is the most likely outcome of the next general election? A Labour majority Labour with most seats but short of a majority The Conservatives with most seats but short of a majority A Conservative majority None of the above     

Dare George Osborne grasp the Scottish spending nettle?

Dare George Osborne grasp the Scottish spending nettle?

Should the Scots continue to get a better deal? Some months before the 2001 general election I found myself sitting next to the young George Osborne, then not even an MP, at a dinner in Oxford and we talked about the coming fight. One of his ideas, which at the time seemed particularly smart, was for the blues to “play the English card” focussing particularly on the subject that’s the main lead in the Mail this morning, the big difference…

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It’s the PB Nighthawks Cafe time again…

It’s the PB Nighthawks Cafe time again…

Welcome to what’s become our nightly open thread – an ides created by PB’s cartoonist, Marf, who produced the picture above. I am told that prints will soon be available to buy – I’ll let you know when that happens. Have a good night – for many it’s back to work in the morning after the long bank holiday weekend. @MikeSmithsonPB

Is Guido going to get beaten in the hanging race?

Is Guido going to get beaten in the hanging race?

Will either petition get to 100,000 by February? The chart features today’s update in the race between the two petitions on capital punishment – one sponsored by Paul Staines (aka Guido) calling for its restoration for specific categories of murder. The other petition, which was started on the same day is calling for the ban on capitial punishment to be retained. This afternoon’s totals were 17,875 for the restoration of capital punishment and 25,665 for those who want the ban…

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