I know it’s a bit late but it’s worth noting that that last week the coalition’s approval ratings entered negative for the first time yet (-2, 39 approve, 41 disapprove) in a YouGov Daily Tracker poll (http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/2786). Admittedly this may be a fluke result and also there are evidently a lot of “don’t knows”. But, given the government have still yet to enact any spending cuts, things are going to get very bad, electorally, for the coalition soon. It’s safe to say this is a rather quick fall from grace and probably the first of many many more negative ratings to come.
Max
A survey was published to mark 100 days of the coalition. The survey found that 43% of voters thought the new government was performing better than the last one, with just 26% saying it performed worse. In addition the survey showed Cameron remains personally popular with his net approval rating at +20, with George Osborne on +7 and Nick Clegg on +5.
Something that was interesting was 40% per cent of voters expect the Tories to win the next election, although just under half believe it will be in coalition. Twenty-eight per cent believe Labour will win. The Tories are still leagues ahead of Labour even if the coalition fails. In fact there is a credible suggestion that were the coalition to collapse and a new election called the Tories could well win that outright majority they wanted all along. The collapse of the coalition would not neccessarily be good for Labour and just because the Tories or Lib Dems are “unpopular” (which I would contest) that doesn’t automatically mean Labour are popular. Far from it.
Incidently I find it rather amusing at how much this blog seems to focus on trivial issues and “freak polls” rather than focusing on issues that actually are of relevance; like the Labour leadership battle which is fast turning in to a civil war between the successful Thatcher-lite right of the party (Blair, Mandelson, Miliband (D) et al) and the loony left (Hattersley, Miliband (E) and Kinnock). Failing that how about a bit of commentary on Prescotts claims that the Labour Party faces bankrupcy?
Things are far from rosy in the Labour garden and its about time BULS woke up to that ;P
Dan like I said, it probably is a freak poll, but it’s significant as it’s the first yet. But, “much this blog seems to focus on trivial issues” ahem, don’t insult the blog Dan, lol! This is coming from someone who’s blog completely failed to blog on their own “emergency” budget for christ’s sake. BUCF instead focuses upon a potential second “milk snatch” and a highly relevant poll of PMs. While BULS focuses on the Labour Leadership election, the regressive nature of the “emergency” budget and the A-level results, etc.
So don’t insult the blog Dan, lol!
Touche lol. It is true BUCF will need to up its game blog wise. However two wrongs don’t make a right. I do think your posts have become a bit trivial/selective of late and have ignored some very important issues for your party and the country as a whole. I am genuinely intrigued to know what BULS think of the increasingly bitter nature of the leadership election and about the situation regarding Labours finances…
Hattersley was from the right of the party. And Kinnock’s hardly loony left. Most of the loony left would find the comparison hilarious.
On the issues; I notice that the Tories on this blog have been strangely quiet about defence. I suspect it concerns the proposals regarding our aircraft carriers.
What people might have forgotten is Daniel Cole’s rather foolish display of outrage regarding the withdrawal of first class rail privileges from senior military figures:
“Not happy with disgracing them with a lack of equipment and support now Gordon Brown has gone yet another step further and announced that senior Generals, Admirals and Air Marshals are not permitted to travel first class.” -Daniel Cole 28/03/2010.
Has the coalition reversed this decision?
I would not presume to speak for Dan but knowing him as I do I think I am right in saying that he places his loyalty to the army before loyalty to any political party and rightly so. In that light I don’t think Im wrong in saying im sure he would be equally as critical of the coalition for not reversing this decision. At the minute I believe he is unavaiable for comment as hes doing a charity walk from Lands end to John O’Groats in aid of Help for Heroes lol.
“In that light I don’t think Im wrong in saying im sure he would be equally as critical of the coalition for not reversing this decision. ”
I look forward to his blog condemning the coalition in the strongest terms. Should we expect to see it on the site by Christmas or a bit later perhaps?
And why is Dan O’D so quiet on the issue of the aircraft carriers?
No Jack because Dan is no longer BUCF VP and the forum is not his, nor my (as a former President’s) private platform to air our personal disquiet over coalition policy. Though I assure you there are thing that I, and Im sure Dan, has taken issue with but I save those for private conversations lol ;P
You know perfectly well that former VPs have written blogs on here many times before and as a former President, you have had the time to write numerous comments. You’ve spent a lot of your time complaining in vacuous terms about the previous government but it seems that no one in bucf wants to face up to the realities of the coalition.
Presuming that you agreed with the content of Daniel Cole’s original article; do you accept that, in Daniel Cole’s words, ‘the Tories and Lib Dems are attacking the military further’?
I believe that our record has been better in regards to the military so far like the fact he doubled the operational allowance for troops and gave £67m more to help tackle roadside bombs which are one of the primary sources for the loss of life. Yes its disappointing that some things have not been reversed and that more is not being done but the truth is Labour haven’t left us a pot to piss in and so yes for now theres not much we can do but already we’ve improved the lives, pay and conditions of our troops. So far so good.
Dan,
forgive me if I am mistaken, but didn’t the coalition, whilst makiing much of this operational allowance, also (on the quiet) cap soldiers pay rises below the level of inflation. Thus effectively, coalition has given with one hand and taken away with the other.
I think it’s fair enough that we’re light on the leadership battle since we’re not backing any particular candidate.
Good points Jack and Sean.
I’ve been unable to find much information on the operational allowance increase (been away from internet access) but can anyone confirm if this ‘extra money’ will or will not be taken from the core defence budget? And how will this effect MOD capital investment?