How much can we rely on YouGov?
February 9th, 2006
-
Is Chris Huhne right to start dancing in the streets?
After an extraordinary day on the Lib Dem leadership markets and the busiest forty-eight hours since PB.C started the big question is how much can we rely on YouGov - the internet pollster?
After the firm’s final poll before the December announcement on David Cameron’s election I raised my doubts about the YouGov approach. What worried me was that the same group of people, in that case Tory members, was being polled several times over and I questioned whether they could be truly representative.
In the run-up to the December 6th Tory announcement David Davis had repeatedly dismissed what YouGov was saying by questioning the accuracy of surveys on the internet. The same points that we have heard this week about web users being different in some way were raised.
-
But on the day YouGov’s final poll which had predicted a 67-33 split was right to within one percent.
Given the time-table of when ballots have to be in the most direct comparison to today’s survey is the one that appeared in the Daily Telegraph on November 11th. This, like the final poll had 67-33.
But is the make-up of the Lib Dem party membership such that comparisons with what happened in the David-Cameron contest less valid. The answer, I would suggest is no. Lib Dem members are younger than Tories and the proportion with net access is probably higher.
The real difference is that the gap between the candidates is that much closer and there is the added complication of second preferences.
-
I think that Huhne is going to win but I am less certain than I was of Cameron’s victory at this stage in the Tory ballot.
The current prices seem about right. One conventional bookie is offering evens on Huhne - take it.
Mike Smithson
MessageSpace Advertising
Mike, I too got on Huhne at very long odds, although only 70-1. I should have stuck with it!
I’d be very happy with that but, as polls in Dunfirmline are “slow” and insiders have suggested the Lib Dems “won” the postal ballots (obviously unsubstantiated) wouldn’t a strong second place or even a shock victory boost Ming?
And what the heck is up with that photo…
I’m not sure if the now pretty certain relative good result in Dunfirmline will be more good for one candidate than any of the others.
I think it will just give the Lib Dems a bit of a boost after a couple of bad months.
Considering at the beginning, many people thought that they would do well to hold off the Nats.
I don’t think Huhne is going to win - in fact I think he is just as likely to come third. The voting audience is mainly non-active members where name recognition is a powerful driver.
The YouGov poll is basically saying it is too close to call with all three candidates potentially within the MoE (if you can have one in a panel poll).
I’d still have Ming as comfortably in front (and I’m not a Minger - I’m waiting to see QT before deciding). But then I’m not a fan of YouGov’s methodology and don’t necessarily trust the way these questions were set up.
The value is surely on Ming?
4. True. However, Ming being the “Scottish MP” would try to make the most of it I would think. Tonight should be interesting, Question Time, by-election etc. I’m sure the LD’s will just be happy coverage is now positive.
‘the now pretty certain relative good (LibDem) result in Dunfirmline’.
Now that is what I call pestering the gods for disappointment.
The game is not over until the returning officer grinds out the numbers in public.
“I’m not a Minger”
You’re certainly not a fan of Huhne!
Not much from Dunfermline today, may suggest all uncertain , nobody is optimistic.
Might be a long night for the counters
Trouble about commenting on a poll is, if you say yeah its reliable you are then accused of supporting who or whatever it says is the best, if you downgrade it then you are just a moaning whinger from those who are not in the lead.
I suggest let’s wait for the next one, that may or may not confirm a pattern.
8. or maybe that no-one cares! There weren’t news from Livingston either and we certainly weren’t in recount area.
Seems like Mike’s and my (on the other thread) advise to buy Huhne at 2.00 at Stan James and sell at BF has been taken up. BF moved from 1.68 to 1.75, probably because some people took advantage of the free money. Now StanJames has removed odds, and BF Huhne odds will probably move towards 1.7 or lower again.
Thanks for the tip off Mike. Got a good sum on Huhne on Stan James at evens and laid it off on Betfair.
Just spoken to a well known Lib dem from Leicester. Chris Huhne held a private meeting there on Sunday night. He was very well received my contact is now certainly supporting him. Huhne has now called the same person seeking a public endorsement. The person concerned is from the golden era of young liberals and the endorsement is designed to win more support from that generation.
The Huhne camp are remarkably well organised and giving their campaign a lot of thought. I suspect that support for Hughes is understated and its still very much a three way fight. personally I want Ming to win so he will no doubt come third given my track record
BBC saying turnout low at Dunfermline, but no figures, qualified by pointing out that postal vote 6,700, which is what 12/13%.
I once worked counting, on a lowish turnout, three way council ward contest, that had to recount four times, 5 votes between all three at the end. That took 3 and a half hours. I didn’t see it but the returning officer had a great times deciding the dodgy votes, who they should be accredited to, and disputing with party agents. Lot of tension about that morning.
15. last may 42,394 people voted and it was the 59.9%…so the total constituents should have been 70,774….6,700 postal votes should something like 9.4%
I am not convinced that a good Lib Dem result in Dunfermline will help Ming Campbell.
Campbell’s great appeal was as a reassuring figure in the crisis atmosphere that accompanied the defenestration of Charles Kennedy.
The more that atmosphere is dissipated, the more viable other candidates will become.
Don’t the polls in bye-elections close at 9.00pm not 10.00pm? I’m sure that used to be the case but perhaps this has now been changed?
10.00pm
For me Campbell’s great appeal is as an instinctive Liberal and a leader with credibility.
Getting back to the topic, I have been running my eye over the various polls available here.
Dan - if you haven’t voted in the apollo poll, there’s still time!
15. I see that in this morning’s papers the SNP predicted a 40% turnout and Labour “insiders” predicted a 2,000 majority.
Can I take it that the £500 back bet hanging out there on Labour to win 1.05 is and attempt to drive the odds lower? Who exactly is desperate enough to do this? Presumably, any LDs who think they’re going to win would have taken all the 10’s and 11’s around yesterday, and so won’t be tempted by the 9’s on offer now, and the Labour backers just aren’t going to bother to place a bet at 1.09 or any lower…
17: The YouGov poll puts Campbell ahead in almost every category (he’s rated best to take on Blair and Cameron, best on radio and TV, most experience, most likely to unite party etc. etc.)
Huhne, with his high ratings on appeal to women and young people, was a reassuring figure for those casting an anxious eye at Cameron. That atmosphere is now dissipating. Bring on Ming!
(That’s unfair - I do rate Huhne highly as a politician. But I think there’s too much ‘We need someone young’ floating about.)
21 Andrea. The Edinburgh Evening News are reporting that Labour “insiders” are predicting a 2-3000 majority.
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=206792006
I’m now hearing it’s tighter … Lab maj 1000-1500 predicted …. turnout now likely to be around 40%.
“The person concerned is from the golden era of young liberals and the endorsement is designed to win more support from that generation”.
Peter Hain?
24. well, or the Edinburgh Evening is wrong or you’re wrong…the Libdems aren’t certainly gained 1,500 voters during the night……..ah, ok, we’re talking about the LD who have a very active night life
Spoke to an SNP worker in Cowdenbeath - turnout will struggle to climb over 40% She said they are getting their vote out and are happy with things. That is what it will come down to - who can get their vote out on the day.
14 - BG?
24/26. Then I think it could be confusing to talk about the majority in total numbers. It’s affected by the turnout.
Has Rennard said anything today?
30 - good morning
Give me another doughnut?
Why the hell am I a Lord?
Are none of you Lib Dems worried that your new leader could be a man with a name that very few can spell?
I had lunch with some advertising folk and unusually the topic came round to politics. To my surprise I met my first Cameroonie converts. Both ex-lib Dem . Apparently the Lib Dem website is pathetic and he and his writer were agreed that the creator of the site wouldn’t have got a job as a visualizer for a village undertaker. On further enquiry it turned out that this was the sole reason for their conversion! All were agreed that Cameron was doing some smart marketing but on my enquiry he still wouldn’t get either of the other two’s vote because he was basically ‘your standard Tory’!
34 - So they weren’t “Cameroonie converts” then?
Valerie 23. My position is that I don’t like any of them. For this contest to have taken place without Ed Davey or Nick Clegg as options is a nonsense.
Hughes was never in this - he is so disliked for his disorganisation by his fellow MPs, the party HQ and just about everybody I’ve spoken to who has ever worked with him. At least when Kennedy missed appointments he had a reason.
Ming was my favourite and I wanted the coronation but I get more disappointed the more I see him. He’s 64 but strikes me as being a lot older. He’s lost the sharpness and spontaneity.
Huhne is a complete unknown but the activists who have worked with him like him a lot. The big thing in his favour is that he had the killer instinct to go for the job - the quality that was lacking in Davey and Clegg who must sorely regret giving their support to Ming so early.
Alas there are only three choices and I’m going to risk it with Huhne.
32 Doubt it, he’s been losing weight lately.
34 - Haven’t slept
Is there any way of tracking what’s happening in QT ahead of the show? The BBC website claims they show it “live” on the web but this means “at the same time as the broadcast” not live…
33 - Is that an existential question?
ahead of the show = ahead of the broadcast…
40. He’s having a split personality and he’s now impersonating Rennard.
Just asked this on the other thread but to guarantee a response I’ll ask it here as well… Who is Stewart Lewis?
43 - Thanks to Andrea for answering my question!
44. He got 1%! But I think his support has grown since that poll
Anyone tell me the betfair prices on Dunfermline? (Apologies, stuck behind a firewall at work)
“The big thing in his favour is that he had the killer instinct to go for the job - the quality that was lacking in Davey and Clegg”
‘Tis funny how vulgar opportunism is admired in politics but reviled in most other polite society.
Alex at 35. Of my 4 lunch companions two were now going to vote Cameron thus they were Cameroonies!
1.09 1.11
8 17.5
PS Anyone know how I can get a sight of the offending Lib Dem Website? Does it have an address?
The Observer - I’ve been told that sometimes programmes show up before broadcast on the BBC iMP trial.
http://www.libdems.org.uk/
49. do you the main one?
http://www.libdems.org.uk/
48 - Thanks, was expecting to have seen a bit more movement by now… oh well…
46 Now:
Labour back 1.09 lay 1.3
LibDem back 8 lay 17.5
Labour moving out a bit.
AT - thanks for the suggestion will check it out.
Now it’s moving. Someone has just laid Labour completely bare.
roger@47
thanks, I was scratching my head over that one as well. re-reading, it’s clear, but for some reason it didn’t enter my head that there were more than 2 people with you at dinner!! doh.
56: Someone just laid Labour at 1.35.
Is that mad (given that you can buy Lib Dems at
or is it me not understanding things?
58 The cool smiley should read “eight”. I obviously don’t understand smileys.
58 - maybe they think the SNP might be in for a shock result… ;-
)
36. I’m easy about Davey and Clegg not standing. I’m a little lukewarm about Davey - I haven’t heard enough of him being forthright - and while I like Clegg for being forthright, he occasionally should be less so.
It’s mad. And your smiley was eight, close-bracket.
60, uh, you can back the SNP at 40 and that’s a deep market.
IG have taken the Lib Dem leadership market off their site (not just closed but off completely). I rang and was promised it would be back 9 ish tomorrow morning.
My messing around shows me slightly ahead on IG but very comfortable with Ming.
Thanks Andy and Andrea. My lunch companions weren’t exaggerating. It’s dreadful. If I was a Lib Dem I’d wonder about the professionalism of an outfit that can come up with that.
65-Roger, if you look at MPs personal websites, you could find worse things.
65 Have you seen http://www.scotlibdems.org.uk ?
The Lib Dem site was better before the redesign (I think it was just before the election).
I have known some people who support a candidate because they fancy her/him (and even drive up to British West Hartlepool!!)which seems a much better reason than the shape of the web site. Or am I just normal!!
The Labour Party website isn’t (or, the last time I looked, wasn’t) very user-friendly - why should anyone need a password to see details such as which PPCs have been selected to fight which constituencies?
well, Jim Fitxpatrick shouldn’t get any vote if he has to be judged only by his website:
http://www.jimfitzpatrickmp.co.uk/
Poor old Dennis Skinner doesn’t even have a website.
Extraordinary really. I just don’t know what to say……. Do you have the address of the Conservative one? Hopefully designed by one of the Saatchi boys brightest and best.
My factory is in Bolsover consituency - the net has only just got here!!
72 http://www.conservatives.com/
http://www.labour.org.uk/home
I think Jim Fitzpatrick has a reasonable one. At least it’s legible. The Lib Dem one would look old fashioned though more appropriate for a cut price sofa company.
The best is the WiddyWeb:
http://www.annwiddecombemp.com/
75. well, it just looks like the website of a funeral company!
Roger, for the sake of completeness were any of them among the five ex-students who hadn’t heard anything about Lib Dem scandals?
74. Labour - POLICE. Says it all - are they sure they didn’t want to put a jackboot on there?
Re. 58, I agree. It used to be UK, but now it looks like an Independent front page.
Supporting a candidate because you fancy them? Much as I like Jody Dunn, Pritti Patel, Jenny Willott, Julia Goldsworthy, Justine McGuinness and Laetitia Cash, I wouldn’t vote for any of them (well, alright, I might have been tempted to vote tactically for Justine McGuinness in Dorset West).
I agree, though, Icarus - voting for a candidate on account of their pulchitrude is more explicable than voting for a party (or a candidate) because of their website.
The Tories’ one features David Bowie in the nick.
Thanks Andrea. Both legible and as expected the Tory one looks pretty good. The Labour one’s not bad though they don’t have the advantage of the cool blue. I guess the Lib dems site is what happens when your leader takes his eye off the ball for so long
82. yes, the con blue looks very nice.
78. Sorry Valerie but these were grown ups! Two from Burnetts and two from Thompsons
The libdem website contains the immortal line:
(list of select committee membeships last updated 28th July 2005)
We all mis-type from time to time, but you’d think someone would notice after 6 months, unless no-one has ever read it (perish the thought).
82. The Lib Dem one did use to have a cheery picture of our beloved former leader on the front page. It got taken off in May when it was redesigned, I think.
Alan Beith’s- that REALLY is bad- it is up to date, but the design?
http://www.alanbeith.org.uk
Oh yes, the ’select committee membeships’ scandal.
They’ll be talking about it for generations to come…
I noticed that some MPs put their signatures in their websites and some of them have a really awful signature!
Look at Darling’s signature:
http://www.epolitix.com/EN/MPWebsites/Alistair+Darling/
OK so no last minute moves on Betfair …. now for the count. ;>
io think our website is better than the official labour website
http://www.labourclub.org.uk
88. It’s not scandalous, merely sloppy. The point is that it has been festering there since July, like a mouldy yogurt in the fridge.
I didn’t know Alan Beith is married to Diana Maddock!
The Islington North Labour Party website seem stuck in the past:
http://www.islington-north-clp.org.uk/
94. yes, Chrisco! how could you not know that!?
This one really is awful.
http://www.rosemarymckenna.labour.co.uk/
“Top 50 Acheivements Under Labour ” Nothing to do with literacy I hope……..
Ah yes, those yoghurts, immortalised by their mouldiness…
Re. 81, rather extreme punishment for ‘Let’s Dance’ and ‘Tin Machine’, surely?
90 Have another look at betfair - money being thrown at Labour.
So who do you think has the best political website, of any party?
100 - well, modesty forbids, but… just click below
101. in terms of graphic, I’m inclined to back the tory’s website.
Re. 96, does she mention her complicity in keeping Dennis Canavan off the approved list of Labour Scottish Parliament candidates? I disagreed (and disagree) with Canavan on many issues, but the party was wrong to block him standing for Holyrood (and I was very pleased when he won as an Independent in 99).
101 - Stephen - it is good but to be honest the format is a little monotonous. That is not a party point but I dont find the Lib Dem colour scheme or layout easy on the eye. It doesnt attract me into the site. BUt I will agree that yours is better than a lot I have seen.
http://www.marktamimp.org.uk/index.htm
The minimalist look for this one……
97. You say yoghurt, I say yogurt…
Let’s call the whole thing a suitable subject for
http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com
100 Rik W. Need you ask.
http://www.scottishjacobites.com
Although some of their policies are a tad interesting.
102 - I’m not sure I want to know how I should be more graphic.
For the Lib Dems, I know that Steve Webb’s site has won awards, and is very good, as is Ed Davey’s and Don Foster’s isn’t too bad.
104 - careful, Rik, or I’ll put your ringing endorsement on my next Focus.
Ironic that Islington North CLP supports the ’struggle for democracy in a far away place, and then rather oddly picks Venezuela as the object for its support, a country in which, under Chavez’s legal code “Anyone who offends with his words or in writing or in any other way disrespects the President of the Republic or whomever is fulfilling his duties will be punished with prison of 6 to 30 months if the offense is serious and half of that if it is light.” That sanction, the code implies, applies to those who “disrespect” the president or his functionaries in private; “the term will be increased by a third if the offense is made publicly.”
Article 147
If it were a criminal offence here to offend the Prime Minister Jeremy Corbyn would have been locked up long ago.
Betfair market seems to indicate a Labour Hold.
im gonna stick my neck out at a 2100 majority (give or take 150 either way).
93 - He can speak Norwegian too.
Lots of minor-looking council by-elections tonight too. But now almost impossible to bet on Labour on Betfair in Dunfirmline - someone’s offering £50 at 1.02 (you stand to win £1, gosh) and that’s it!
I see the BBC aren’t bothering to cover it on TV?
Why can users in Austria or Germany not bet on the UK politics bets?
111. Venezuela has some fans in the Commons:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=28723&SESSION=875
I guess gambling on politics is illegal there?
14. Nick - The BBC is relying on 24 hour news coverage,hence no Mr Dimbleby and assorted MPs
114 - It is on BBC2 at 12.20am, though News 24 always seems to be on BBC2 at that time of night now for some reason, by-elections or not. Cheap way of filling airtime I guess.
Oooops - we could be invaded by an angry Venezualan President:
http://news.viewlondon.co.uk/Blair_told_to_go_right_to_hell_15152758.html
So there is nobody to comment on the Tory´s lost deposit? A bias on the part of the BBC, surely?
Anyway the weirdest things from Islington North CLP website are the events they organize. The next one is:
http://www.islington-north-clp.org.uk/events.html
[113] Norwegian and Welsh - I can’t think that there can be too many MPs who can speak both… must come in handy for his Intelligence Committee duties… and John O may (or may not) be pleased to note he’s a Balliol man…
A good result for Labour tonight is YET MORE good news for the Chancellor.
Sweet dreams!
What’s weird about a St. Patrick’s night social?
What’s this ‘Dunfirmline’ - Cameron’s new house?
126. The weird part was to think Corbyn and McDonnell listing (and dancing) the Dan’s Tunes Disco.
Any bets on the viewing figures for Question Time tonight being the lowest in the programme’s history? I would expect less than 2m viewers for sure, possibly down in the low 1.x millions. It usually gets 2.5m or so I believe.
If I’m awake by the time This Week comes on, I’ll be amazed.
127. it’s “listening”, not “listing”!
News 24 from midnight, just announced at the end of the 10 o’clock news.
.24: Why, what other good news has he had recently?
232. At personal level, fathering a new baby.
Ah and his poll figures increased in the last Populus poll.
232 - do you think he practiced first?
My source at BBC Scotland reporting from the D & FW count says that turnout around 40% …. and “big smiles” on Lib Dem faces, having “rattled” Labours cage badly. SNP “seen off”.
More as I get it.
Good start from Huhne. I have to say he is by far the most impressive of the three, and by the end of this he will be a dead cert for the lib dem leadership election.
35 - Where are you, it hasn’t even started yet!?!
Brian Taylor on BBC Scotland predicting a Labour win, LIBS 2nd SNP 3rd
totally agree, huhne looks and sounds impressive, easily the best of the three
Whats my Line? on BBC?
You’re making this up aren’t you? They’ve only just been introduced! Talk about desperate…….
35 - 38 what the!!!!
Come on- Hughes and Huhne are playing opposition- Ming is playing Government..
How can that be? Its only just started!
Is anyone else trying to watch QT on the computer and getting file not found? It usually works fine…
Is anybody elese having trouble watching QT live via the website? Curse BBC Wales and their insistence on showing their rubbish politics show before QT! Don’t they know I have money riding on this?
126 -
:D 
244. Snap!
245. Should read ‘else’, not ‘elese’!
Does Simon Hughes really think that “I’m the second best possible leader for the LibDems” is a good selling point?
campbell is pitiful, hughes ok, huhne is far superior though
Ming looks like David Cameron’s grandfather - the makeup is dreadful.
huhne is winning this hads down, he really is a class act without doubt, ming the merciless is useless, total joke, i
what the hell is this, are huhne supporters trying to ramp this up in his favour
I’m sorry, but when I hear Huhne speak I just hear ‘drone….drone….drone…..’. Uninspiring at best.
News on Dunfer?
Would somebody please provide an unbiased commentary of what’s happening until 23.05? That’s when Dragon’s Drivel finishes on BBC One Wales and QT starts! A thousand curses!
So far I’m having to rely on Betfair as some sort of form guide - so far, Hughes odds tightening, Campbell odds no movement, Huhne odds lengthening - is this a true representation of what’s happening?
Huhne…. “I know an alcoholic…” zzzzz Huhne is very nervous - have not seen him nervous before - tough at the top eh Chris?!!
Has the Huhne campaign team been deployed to these boards tonight?
Huhne looks like a tax adviser or a chartered accountant. Could he be the John Major of the Liberal Democrats?
He makes the other two look complete lightweights though. He will win by a mile.
Simon making the quavering-voiced appeal ….
To counteract the Huhne drones…..
Hughes is the only one who sounds human, vote humanity!
As a non Lib Dem supporter I have no axe to grind - just an observation. Ming I like but the make-up is dreadful!
Hughes fighting for his life ….
What’s with Huhne and his vigorous head-shaking?
135 was posted before the program started!!! campbell is doing better than expected, he is coming across as the most precise and coherent
[152] No really… politely he is actually dull, Ming actually looks quite good- “unity and purpose”- so rubbishing him is stupid
161 - yes, he does have too much makeup on: bit of a George Dawes effect.
Evening! Watching online. Ming is doing well for my money…Huhne is doing his best, Hughes can step up a gear.
Huhne is a bit of a non-entity but Campbell is too old and pompous and Hughes too weird so Huhne would seem the best bet.
no decent questions yet
Ah, at last something about policy!
huhne is major, it all become so clear now!
63: Hysteria? He’s thinking “Oh feck, I’m gonna win this bloody thing”
Huhne is not quite at his best here, is he? Agree that Campbell has had a better slap than that - but Huhne does not seem in the same league as the other two. Reminds me of someone though.
good answer from hughes on the war
As a neutral…….!! Ming seems the most impressive. Huhne is pretty good and pleasantly without faux passion (Hughes take note!).
If you can get BBC Scotland on Sky Newsnight Scotland are covering the by-election at 11.
I’m very impressed with Hughes… He seems to be me the most normal, and I would go as far to say most professional
276.and what are they saying?
Ming on his best area admittedly sounds good.
good answer by capbell on iraq, its been honest and not pandering to the cheap claps is what puts him above the rest
167. How? The BBC News Video Player thingy was having none of it when I tried! I’m having to rely on Betfair, Iain Dale’s infuriating randomly vanishing blog and the comments here as a guide to how things are going
Cheers folks. Sitting in a basement in New York. Commentary is excellent.
I’m not a Lib Dem, and I’m unlikely to be voting for them, so this is going to sound very much like urging the party to pick the worst candidate, but… I find Simon Hughes by far the most likeable of the three. He’s always portrayed as the candidate of the left and such, but I’m surprised to find he’s the one who alienates me least. He seems more measured and more articulate than the other two. Possibly this is because he’s now the underdog so the pressure isn’t on.
interesting reading the comments that hughes is seeming human and the others coming across well politically. Which will be the key factor for the voting members?
Lab win Libs 2nd
181 - it’s fine online for me too. You could try the Windows Media Player version if you weren’t already?
182. I’m having troubles to see it through the net…lot’s of “break”
Any chance you can keep us updated on Betfair movements?
Ming awful on Iraq (despite applause): “No one wants the troops home faster than I do.” Oh yeah right.
Huhne didn’t make the most of it though.
“Chris wasn’t with us”- oooh, get her
Iraq- Ming gets that one, thought Huhne got a bit lost- “my experience in business”- what has that got to with the price of fish?
It seems to be OK now, thanks.
Hughes getting into his stride after shaky start.
Ming in stride also. Can’t see makeup on small screen, but QT can be terrible - they made George Osborne look scary.
Huhne - stop talking about your experience! Deadlines in Iraq - comparable?!
188 - LDs moving out significantly (15s)
campbell won that question, huhne 2nd, hughes third
Campbell and Hughes both look comfortable in their positions on Iraq, Huhne a bit shouty.
Huhne reminds me of my old maths teacher. Hughes is creeping ahead for me.
Ming is a lot stronger than I thought, acting in a principled manner, made Huhne look like an oppourtunist.
186. My PC automatically attempts to load it in the accursed Real Player. I didn’t realise Media Player was an option otherwise I’d have taken that route a long time ago!
188. It’s all over the place. As far as I can tell, Campbell hasn’t moved, but odds for the other two are going up and down like Bill Clinton’s underpants!
Iain Dale declared the first two questions for Hughes.
D & FW Update. Labour Hold. Lib Dem Good Second. Tory vote holds up.
More as …..
book value: yes, Huhne isn’t the strongest on iraq-but I think we have moved on overall. Some of the questions have been a bit odd so far.
Campbell logically consistent on Iraq, Hughes morally right. Who’s the other guy?
The only winner tonight is David Cameron, sat watching this at home, in his flip-flops, enjoying a glass or two of something.
199 - yes, to be fair I thought Huhne made the “honest broker” point better later in the question.
huhne is really disapointing, i thought he would be a lot better, does anyone else think he not doing that well
Labour majority said about a couple of thousand.
two old boys doing well, huhne struggling
yeah im d