Poster of the Year - the voting part 1.
August 29th, 2007
Your chance to vote for those who have enriched the site the most
This is the first round of voting for the PBC Posters of the Year. Please place your votes before 1830 BST tomorrow to make it count.
Everybody, where they post on the site or not, is entitled to vote in each of the categories.
Tomorrow there will be the final part - the Overall PBC Poster of the Year. The top two in each of the four categories here will line up against two of our most prolific contributors, JackW and SeanT.
Just to say that I am in complete charge and if there are disputes then my ruling over-rides everything. I am right even when I am wrong.
Best of luck - and thanks to all who have contributed to the total of 210,000 separate post that have been published here since September 1st 2006.
Politicalbetting has become Britain’s daily political conversation and a must read for all who try to forecast or bet on political outcomes.
Mike Smithson
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Early exit polls suggest the winners of these categories are likely to be:
- Sean Fear
- Nick Palmer MP
- Mark Senior
- Andrea
But as for who will win best overall poster, only time will tell…
Judging the result from just 5% of the likely votes?? Risky! Perhaps you want to place a bet on those results??
Where can I bet on the result?
I see that Benedict’s mum has voted as well.
******** The Vote for ColinW Campaign – A view from the stump. **********
Following what was described as a ‘deliberately low key’ launch, the Vote for ColinW Campaign this evening made a surprise visit to The Jeremy Thorpe Retirement Home. When asked to explain the absence of their candidate, a spokesman for Dr W told reporters the man himself was concerned that ‘once in, he wouldn’t be allowed out’.
News of the campaigns presence quickly spread, and within minutes a large hostile crowd of residents brandishing walking frames had gathered, barricading Dr W’s campaign team in the Rinka Memorial Toilet Block. After half an hour of fruitless negotiation with JackW (no relation) the leader of the group of pensioners, the Campaign Team decided to make a run for it. Unconfirmed reports suggest that 2 of Dr W’s Campaign Team remain unaccounted for following the stampede.
At the local hospital Dr W’s campaign manager was quoted as saying that he hadn’t seen anything like it since the last time he campaigned for Dr W. As he was wheeled away on a trolley he was heard to mutter to a nurse ‘ Dr W has enrolled us all in BUPA. Who do I have to see to get a referral letter?’.
Dr W’s campaign team is expected to make further surprise visits over the coming 24 hours.
The LD frontrunner has been arrested for postal vote irregulaities!!!
:lol: 
6 - I thought that was a Labour speciality.
7. rhicio ewyllysi bod afreolaidd ym yr cachu!
Are we expecting an appearance of the Peter Snow “Swingometer” ??
I understand every expense is being spared for the BBC results show !!
Will Andrea get Paxoed ??
Will you be up for the Peter the Punter “Moment” ??
Who will survive the Sean Fear landslide ??
A nation awaits transfixed ……
Is the Peter Snow “Swingometer” not painful for you?
Presumably he will have to stick an Arrow up your “ARSE” to demostrate the flow of movement?
9. Do you expect a brown movement?
I’m just waiting to see Snowflake and Benedict try to spin themselves out of this one, ‘always get odd results in August’ ’short length of the campaign made a challenge difficult’ ‘enjoyed campaigning on the issues’ etc.
Although the most almighty piece of spin of the day probably goes to Mike, as the public sector workers revolt against the Government, we’re all looking nostalgically inwards.
12. What the hell does that mean? Is it Russian, sweedish or bull shit?
I see that turnout is considerably higher in the Tory race. I wonder what that means - though being objective two of the top candidates for the overall price, David Herdson and Sean Fear are competing.
The Labour race looks like a cert for Nick Palmer while, surprisingly given he is such a bad tempered so and so, Mark Senior is leading for the Lib Dems. For me Stodge is by far the best Lib Dem voice.
As expected Andrea is storming away in the specialist section.
13.Although the most almighty piece of spin of the day probably goes to Mike, as the public sector workers revolt against the Government, we’re all looking nostalgically inwards.
I know it feels to me and people i have asked as if this country is descending into chaos. Prison strikes follow postal strikes - what next? The Labour parties pay master (the Unions) want more power still!
Interestingly they say of the U.S. presidential campaigns in the run upto polling there can be a november surprise. I tend to look at September as usually providing one here or abroad. For instance in the last few years there was 1997 - Diana (Ok it was actually the 31st Aug when it started), 2000 “fuel Protests”, 2001, 9/11, 2005 - the emergence of cameron. I am sure i have missed some on the way but Septemebr can through some unusual or instrumental events up.
16. I think that Mark Senior is the lightweight in the political party catagories, that is comparing LD, Labour and Tory.
If Nick Palmer MP did not win the vote for Labour it would mark a catastrophic failure of his career. I would be surprised if he ever posted again? I voted for Tyson! You never know when you need a good psychiatric nurse!!!
I must say though i think Snowflake5 has taken it a bit far on “her” website today. Putting poor old Nick in that….. Lightbulb …..!!!
17. Sorry should have been 15.
16. Interestingly they say of the U.S. presidential campaigns in the run upto polling there can be a november surprise.
Sorry think it is October surprise!
There appears to be a serious computer security issue re. this vote (at least on IE) - I’ve just tried to vote (in the specialist category), only for my computer to be attacked by that ‘Word 2000 SR1 - Installing’ virus. I’ve got a fairly decent AVP as well. So some little horror (probably off on their school holidays) seems to have booby-trapped the vote.
I wonder whether JackW is behind a devious campaign to get the weakest in each category elected so that he will improve his chances in the final run-off. Could it be like Portillo and IDS in the Tory 2001 race where IDS supporters ganged up on Portillo so it was an IDS-Clarke final.
Jack - we need to be told
I want to the Pink rosette, not the Orange colour!
I’ve just discovered my late inclusion on the Labour list. Thanks Mike!
21. I would have thought your preferrence would be Brown?
Nick Palmer is being closed on as his vote drops!
Can’t believe ‘Ave it 07′ isn’t on the list of Specialist posters.
Or Martin Day for the Tories!
14,
Looks Finnish. Seems to mean something like “must indeed frankly concede, lest something, something, mumble ..“
25. Obviously a rigged poll!!!
Only establishment figures allowed to be candidates; the dynamic outsiders barred from running due to their popular appeal!!!
26. It probably means access to pubic transport is restricted?
28.
25 - I agree!
:lol: 
27 -
30. Maybe the whole poll should be declared null and void?
I’m waiting for roger to declare that this is a disastrous result for Nick Palmer at this stage in the electoral cycle.
32. Maybe Nick does not want to win as like the Chilten Hundreds will oblidge him to surrender office?
Mind you it would open some interesting betting opportunities up!
20 Mike. I think being compared to IDS is actionable !!
However in the context of fraternal electioneering it’s clearly an attempt at frivolity.
21. I also note the presence of Andrea will ensure that the allegations that a certain Scottish personage had the said Italian “specialist” manicled incommunicado with “Hunky Dinky Dunky” is as we say in North Britain “Not Proven” !!
Vote
party!
O/T
I oppose this statue:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/6969091.stm
Whilst i don’t doubt the historical significance of Mandela or his contribution to south African politics.
Would it not have been better to errect a statue of a British person? For instance Ted Heath for taking us into Europe? Thatcher for being a political dynamism? Attlee for his popular appeal? Macmillan for getting Polaris? Wilson for making British society more tolerant in the realms of Abortion, Homosexuality and mixed race families? Enoch Powell for his radicalism and trying to preserve “britishness” as he saw it before Brown.
A Bernard Manning statue would have been a fantastic addition!
:lol: 
33. Scottish personage had the said Italian “specialist” manicled incommunicado with “Hunky Dinky Dunky” is as we say in North Britain “Not Proven” !!
Can you explain that?
36
:lol: 
:lol: 
(no more smileys - ed)
39. Cut the smily faces out.
35 Martin Day. Exactly !!!
It’s clearly a case of South African imperialism. You wouldn’t get the British erecting statues of our politicians all over the world ….. no deary me not !!!
38 Martin Day. No !!
41. Yes they use to put them up in Victorian & Edwardian times but since 1945. This practice had stopped, will we be having a statue up for George W Bush next for standing upto the Bin Larden terrorists?
Bin Larden terrorists? - Ah i typed it with the american prenounciation!
40 - typical LD - hiding behind his big brother!
Mark Senior’s big brother, it is time for bed!
46 loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!
45.
I think my late candidacy could play to my advantage. Idon’t think a long campaign would have been helpful.
I feel I could be the unity candidate. If successful I promise equidistance with the other successful Con and LibDEM victors.
49. If you win - can i be the person who turns the lights out?
43,44,48,50: idiot.
49. LOL.
I would just like to say that as head of the political betting miltary. I have ceased all of the poster crown’s in a coup, which after consideration of the contributions of myself and “Ave it ‘07″ will be divided between ourselves. The Labour nomination and hence award will goto Stjohn!
54 hear hear - best post i’ve seen on this site!
Heil 07!
:lol: 
Martin - Can’t think Colin W is an establishment candidate!
Can’t believe no one has started moaning yet about about inequities of first past the post, need for more complex electoral systems….
Lets have a system where 10% of the votes get discarded because no one understands the system
Oooooh is that Scotland?!!!!
58: Good point!
Mike, we demand an AV vote!
I demand that the excellent Rod Crosby (who should have been on the poll, but we all forgot about him because he hasnt posted for weeks) come back with some graphs and an adjustable excel spreadsheet showing the probability of other people winning with vote transfers!
On another note, it’s interesting that the “lurkers” have a slightly different take on who is the best poster to those who posted yesterday. For example, ColinW actually doing quite well, and Tyson and Roger not so…
Mike
I assume that you are the Returning Officer for this election.
Please advise on the number of spoilt ballot papers
I remain,your obedient servant
etc etc
60. Yes, it is distressing to see Roger languishing in equal 4th.
One big surprise, for me, is the performance of Henry G, a poster I have actually never heard of.
I am sure this is my fault not Mister G’s.
Any of those nominated, who cover their postings with smileys, should be eliminated. It is an obvious attempt to impress the voters with their ‘bloody cleverness’
I see Jonathan Yeo, (son of Tim bonking Yeo) has upset a few, by making a portrait of Bush out of porn mags, ‘So why are you off to your bedroom carrying those porn mags Jonathan.?’ I’m making a portrait of President Bush Dad’ not a bad excuse, never thought of that one myself.
63 - what about those not nominated.
Do they get bonus votes with smileys?
This will be a Birmingham election, with the candidates all dashing round to their friends’ computers to cast extra votes.
A pedant writes: No it won’t. They haven’t got any friends.
Re 12, Tpkfar, “I’m just waiting to see Snowflake and Benedict try to spin themselves out of this one, ‘always get odd results in August’ ’short length of the campaign made a challenge difficult’ ‘enjoyed campaigning on the issues’ etc.”
I have not been about much for a few days, been kind of busy!
I am also about to set up a new website. (unrelated to politics at all)
It is not too late to beat Peter the Punter! The overseas vote can still change the result! All of you PB.com readers from all over the world, unite! Vote early, vote often!
[68] Congratulations, Chris! Boy or girl? (If twins, commiserations…)
re 64 “I see Jonathan Yeo, (son of Tim bonking Yeo) has upset a few, by making a portrait of Bush out of porn mags, ‘So why are you off to your bedroom carrying those porn mags Jonathan.?’ I’m making a portrait of President Bush Dad’ not a bad excuse, never thought of that one myself.”
What amused me about this story was that he told sky news in barely disguised terms that it was undertaken in this fashion because such magazines contain copious amounts of “bush”. Unsubtle is clearly the new subtle.
I voted for Benedict and Andrea.
68 Yes, many congratulations, Chris.
Have you decided on a name yet? Pierre is a nice name.
Presumably you will be standing down from the election now so as to devote more time with your family. Highly commendable.
You couldn’t ask your supporters to transfer to me, could you? I mean, Andrea’s a nice guy but can you really trust an Italian?
Dormez bien.
The Electoral Commission is to appeal against a ruling that UKIP should repay only a fraction of £367,697 it received in “impermissible donations”.
Earlier this month a district judge ruled the party should pay back £18,481 - but found the breach was accidental.
But the Electoral Commission said it was disappointed and was appealing in order to clarify the law on donations.
Most of the money had been donated by retired bookmaker Alan Bown, at a time when he was not on the electoral roll.
The UK Independence Party had feared financial ruin if it was forced to hand back all the donations.
OT: Don’t miss Newsnight’s David Cameron special - starting now on BBC2.
62 - Henry G posted excellent information about the deputy leadership.
Can I just point out that the lib dem race is a close one, remember that every vote counts, vote with your hearts and, if that fails, send me an invoice and I’ll see you right.
Well, I’m extremely flattered. I voted for David Herdson, Coldstone, Stodge and Yokel. Which is no reflection on some of the other contestants. As I said earlier, I think there are very many who I would be happy to nominate.
And Sean T and Jack W are very worthy choices for the final round.
68 Chris. Very many congratulations Chris.
68 Well done Chris… We had a boy this morning. Just sent email pics to family and by habit dipped into pb.com. You got my vote BTW.
The NHS is truely awesome. Nearly delivered in car park. V. dramatic . So many staff chipped in to help. Got to labour ward with 20 minutes to spare… Complications all sorted. All’s well.
Never had to think of money at all unlike USA where you have to look at the small print of your plan (caesers often not covered).
Repeat the NHS is an awesome public service. We take it for granted at our peril.
BTW Must be something in the pb.com water.
69-72
The boy is named Grégoire.
I won’t stand down and your dirty tricks are a big mistake mister Peter
Congratulations, JVTVNF2 - I suddenly feel very old…
78 Congratulations to you and your family!
79 Dirty tricks? Moi?
Nice name. Very best wishes to all of you.
Apart from the election, of course.
[79] All babies think they’re called Grégoire…
78 Congratulations Jonathan, and good luck, even if you did vote for a foreigner.
78 Johnathan. Must have been a slow news day on PB nine months ago !!
Hearty congratulations too.
77 very many thanks Jack!
78. Ave, Gregoire, and congrats to the proud parents - likewise Jonathan. Well done.
I had a baby girl last year. It’s the best and the worst thing that will have ever happened to you.
stephanie flanders just absolutely shredded cameron about family policy! God knows what she’ll do to him on economics. Crick, bless him just constantly sought out figures in his notes which he clearly didn’t understand.
Congrats to the new parents - and I did vote that Gregoire would be proud of his Dad.
For seanT’s benefit, I also voted for HenryG in the Labour category - expert analysis, often well ahead of what is being discussed elsewhere with regard to Labour issues, and great betting tips.
Congratulations to all posters having children today
88. “stephanie flanders just absolutely shredded cameron about family policy!”
Hmmm - interesting. My perception of the exchange was entirely the opposite. I thought that he comprehensively shredded her.
Thanks to everyone. Back to work…
Well I’m off to bed now. Got a tough day of campaigning ahead of me tomorrow.
I see that Italian chappy has a slight lead in the contest but presumably all his Mafiosi friends have already voted and turned in now whereas my hardcore constituency is due back from the pub any time now. I expect it to be very close by the morning.
If anybody here has not cast their vote yet, I ask them to consider who they think is the smartest, quickest, most diligent and hard-working political wonk on the site and then vote instead for the man most likely to find them the winner of the Ayr Gold Cup.
Nite all.
Btw…presumably these new babies are eligible to vote?
Personally, I love babies.
Nite all, and especially all you youngsters out there.
Well, I made an impassioned case in favour of Nick Palmer as the unarguable choice for PBC Labour blogger. But finding myself unexpectedly on the ballot sheet, now I’m not quite so sure!
My campaign is now into overdrive. I am very much in favour of families and congrats to Chris from Paris and also Jonathan.
“then vote instead for the man most likely to find them the winner of the Ayr Gold Cup. ”
recount between SNP and Lab for the winner
re 91
I think she was saying to him it’s either important or it isn’t and £20 a week says it isn’t. I think the wider point is that you either preach by promoting marriage at the expense of non marriage, or you make things equal (in BOTH directions). The mere act of saying “look I don’t think governemnts should preach” doesn’t in itself mean that you aren’t preaching when you push a certain moral agenda! I think he’s trying to give some cost free blue water to the blue rinse brigade whilst saying to the wider community that he’s not being preachy and moralistic.
95 ‘My campaign is now into overdrive.’
Glad to hear it, StJohn. For a minute I thought you were going after the legendary ‘nul points’.
Cameron ain’t my favourite pol, but - fair’s fair - he is good on TV. Articulate, personable, lucid, intelligent - and he manages not to come across as a posho Etonian nitwit. A miracle!
He is miles more likeable than Brown, and equally as impressive intellectually. The Tories just need 100 more like him (preferably from comprehensives) and they would romp home.
Also I’m in favour of health, opposed to crime, in admiration of the police and armed forces and desire peace on earth.
I also prefer a strong economy which allows for improved provision for the most vulnerable in society and lower taxes.
Vote St.John. All will be well.
99 - funnily enough, I was just thinking how badly this was going. And we can’t say “BBC stitch-up” - they’re just giving himself enough rope to hang himself.
Oh dear, they’re now dredging up quotes from ConHome.
On other hand, who was the last Tory leader to get a full edition of Newsnight all to himself?
Excellent win for Henman in the US Open !!
101. I don’t think he put a foot wrong. Gave the right signals, offered no hostages to fortune, stayed courteous and on-message, while seeming determined and smart.
And his hair looked better. Fuller and richer. He got some good camera angles.
He’s definitely the most “papabile” leader the Tories have had since Maggie. Now he just needs Brown to f*** up in some crucial way.
100 stjohn. You are running a very polished campaign, and I hope that you do well. Win or lose though, those posters nominated are the elite of the site and should be pleased with themselves.
Looking at the list reminded me what a great site this is, and how lucky it is to have such high quality posters. I frequent forums on other subjects, and I must say that they are not a patch on PB.com. (Our genial host does a superb job as well, I am pleased to say)
102. Jack W. Shouldn’t you be in bed? The main event awaits. Rest those Jabotite bones for the battle ahead.
O/T I thought Cameron did Ok tonight on Newsnight. Quite tough questioning particularly from Stephanie Flanders. She came over best of all.
I’m now a seller of Labour seats at the next GE. Perhaps not entirely consistent with being a nominee as Labour PBC blogger of the year but hey, it is a betting site.
Yes, Cameron was very impressive I thought - even more so considering he’s had the roughest few weeks of his leadership. Perhaps he sped up just a bit towards the end, but that was probably through the rush of relief he felt at having delivered a pretty decent performance.
105. A craven and blatant pitch for the Tory vote.
105 stjohn. Quite right.
Just time to polish the claymore before bed !!
Nite all ….. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
101: ‘Oh dear, they’re now dredging up quotes from ConHome.’
Well, the quote from ConHome couldn’t have been that deadly as five minutes later I can’t for the life of me remember what it was.
105 - Flanders is an impressive journalist, I’m afraid that Crick is just useless, for some reason I always picture him in short trousers and a school cap, strange…
Anyhow, as we reach that special time of night I’d like to take this opportunity to extend a very warm welcome to the creatures, those poor marginalised souls on the fringes of politics.
After a hard day railing against the iniquities of the world you can help by voting for a kindred cynic and non-morning person, you *can* make your voice heard!
(This election message was paid for by ‘Friends of the Creatures’, a non-party organisation)
Is it just me or does Cameron seem to have a few bvags under his eyes all of a sudden? Looks like he ain’t been sleeping?
Pretty good performance I thought. His qualities are obviously in media performance and being able to relate to people, even though he’s a millionare. His problems really remain that in a few vital areas, like tax and spend policy, he isn’t half as convincing as Gordon Brown.
Its going to be an absolutely fascinating general election, you couldn’t find two leaders more differant in tone and character, and this time, perhaps unusually, the Tories clearly have the populist, whilst Labour have the interlectual.
Re 64, Coldstone ne Grumpy Old Man “I see Jonathan Yeo, (son of Tim bonking Yeo) has upset a few, by making a portrait of Bush out of porn mags, ‘So why are you off to your bedroom carrying those porn mags Jonathan.?’ I’m making a portrait of President Bush Dad’ not a bad excuse, never thought of that one myself.”
Re 78, Jonathan, “The NHS is truely awesome. Nearly delivered in car park. V. dramatic . So many staff chipped in to help. Got to labour ward with 20 minutes to spare… Complications all sorted. All’s well.”
Congratulations.
Oh, rearding the Flanders thing, I thought she seriously slipped up when she revealed she herself was a single mother. Not sure why she decided to disclose that, but from then on, I felt she ca,e across as though she had a personal axe to grind with Cameron and the Tories. Not really impartial, and that was a big turn-off, I thought.
110. Yep. Spot on ukpaul. Crick was great as the slightly comical off message antiestablishment provocateur. Hague and the 15 pints was his finest hour. But he doesn’t cut it as the official political reporter for Newsnight. Funnily enough I have the same imagery about him as you do. I know you have a big interest in communication. NLP coming through perhaps?
105. SeanT. Yes you got me there. But my money is where my mouth is to good amounts. I think Brown is at the apex of his popularity and, early or late election, his poll ratings can only be moving downwards, in my view.
11. But in some other vital areas - like Europe, crime, immigration, maybe even health - he is much more convincing than Brown.
I really wonder if Brown has what it takes to win an election. Where has Gordo the Weirdo been the last two weeks when half of Britain was getting shot in pub car parks or beaten to death in flowerbeds? Eh?
He seems to disappear whenever things get the least hairy. But he can’t always disappear. During the intensity of a GE campaign Brown’s brooding pessimistic saturnine conspiratorial persona will be revealed in stark comparison to Cameron’s Reaganite sunniness. Brown is Walter Mondale in a kilt.
And with those deeply controversial words I’m off to Bedistan to harvest some sleep poppies.
Vale.
114. GIN. Good point. My initial view was that she had wrong footed him. However, on reflection, it was unprofessional of her to cite her own personal situation in this situation and he dealt with it cooly and deftly.
116, Oh yes, Cameron was good on Europe, crime and social breakdown and health. Despite the mishap last week with the hospital list, fundamentally what Cameron about A&E closures and maternity closures, was right. When these cuts start to bite, I think Labour will possibly irreversably lose the high ground over health and the NHS. So, much so, I’ll be amazed if Brown actually goes through with these closures.
Can I just say, vote for me, vote early and vote often
From here I can remote control a number of computers all coming from different IP addresses
Seemed to me that all four interviewers were trying to get a headline quote- something Today has as a weakness as well. Makes you realise just how good Paxman is - he challenges and tries to wrongfoot but doesn’t seem to have an agenda, other than of course scepticism of all professionals and politicians. Cameron did well.
Congratulations, Chris and Jonathan! We look forward to the youngsters’ contributions as we debate the 2013 election.
121. Blatant electioneering!
121 - Sort of the internet equivalent of kissing babies.
Sorry to disagree with our Tory friends. I thought Cameron was very glib.
But then a lot of what he was saying seemed to have come straight out of the Lib Dem policy handbook, so perhaps he himself - as a Conservative - was not totally convinced by what he was saying.
He is a good actor, I’ll grant him that - heir to Blair indeed. But even more glib.
121 Did you mean 2013? Heavy hint for a 2008 (or possibly 2009) election or are we expecting heavily politicised 6 year olds from the Chris & Jonathan households.
Congrats to both of Chris and Jonathan - post US mid terms and Dutch election the attraction of Pb.com obviously dimmed. Posting on the site is now the new postpartum cigar in the health conscious 21st century.
I think Nick Palmer has got him spot on. A yachtsman tacking towards the prevailing wind. I have previously described him as a tabula rasa.
He is a reasonable guy,liberal leaning, but no clear political convictions. No bad thing in my view. Blair started off similarly but then found his ideological crusade. And look where we ended up? Iraq.
I’m a Labour supporter but I don’t fear a Cameron premiership. No ideology or religious fervour. Suits me.
I voted “blind” - voted for the leader in all categories, except for Jan of Norway.
Can I just say before I go to bed, that I am pleased to have been nominated, am very pleased to have got any votes at all, but am remarkably pleased to see so many people I would have nominated being nominated.
I would like to add that Augustus Carp is the finest gent in the land, a man of generous and kind manners, and you should all vote for him in the Liberal section.
Good night all!
Bit unfair to run this whilst i am in China - Though the leaflets are cheap here I think the shipping time will be too long toi influence the result - Am impressed that I voted for all the leading candidates.
Nice to see my 4 nominees running away with the awards
Now only if I’d put some money on it….. Ah well. Just have to see my final nominee: JackW win overall now for a full house 