September 25, 2014
Clacton and Heywood & Middleton: two weeks to go
A fortnight today, voters go to the polls in the Clacton and Heywood & Middleton by-elections. Both contests have fallen out of the national headlines during the past few weeks,…
September 24, 2014
A referendum defeat has made the SNP more of a threat on polling day, not less
I’ve previously described Scotland as Labour’s red wedge, and a place where only one party is likely to make gains at the general election. But the referendum has changed all…
September 23, 2014
East Midlands: a two-party tussle
The East Midlands is going to play a key role in the outcome of the election. Over a third of its constituencies are marginals, of which almost half have majorities…
September 22, 2014
Poll update: Ukip has been helped, not hindered, by the Scottish referendum
Despite most eyes being on Scotland these past weeks, pollsters have kept trotting out their regular snapshots of voting intention at the general election. And their findings have confirmed that…
September 21, 2014
Latest by-election results: three out of three for Labour
More so than usual, this week’s council by-elections were overshadowed by events elsewhere. In their own humble way they had a few interesting stories to tell, however. Labour was the…
September 20, 2014
The parts of Scotland that attracted the most Yes votes should terrify Labour
The referendum result may have been the one that Labour wanted, but the party would do well to heed the warning sent to it by its historic Scottish strongholds. Three of…
September 19, 2014
One prediction Alex Salmond got right
The Scottish first minister’s expectation of a “record turnout” in the referendum came to pass. The figure of 84.6% tops the list of participation in every national or regional-based referendum…
September 18, 2014
What happens if there’s a riot, and six other referendum scenarios
Today’s referendum in Scotland is an unprecedented event – just the kind the polling organisations, local councils and electoral commissions don’t like. It is unique in modern political history and…
September 17, 2014
Referendum result night: why you should beware early trends
Although the votes cast in Thursday’s referendum are being collated and counted at 32 separate locations, it’s important to remember the final result is the sum of all votes across…
September 16, 2014
Alex Salmond expects a ‘record turnout’, but what’s the figure to beat?
The significance of Thursday’s referendum has prompted speculation we’re set for an enormous turnout. The extension of the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds, plus talk of a “once in a…
UK elections 2015 