Best of the Politics Blogs

Anthony Wells gives a detailed analysis of the latest YouGov poll putting the Tories three points in the lead. He describes the results as “horrid” for Brown, but says it is not great reading for the Conservatives either: “The past month may have improved the Conservatives’ polling position in voting intentions, but these underlying problems haven’t gone - 65% agree they don’t really know what Cameron in power would ... read more

A month ago, Dizzy Thinks speculated Nick Clegg and his Sheffield Hallam predecessor, Richard Allen, had registered the nickclegg.com domain as part of an early coup against Ming Campbell. Shane Greer furthered the allegation this week when Clegg’s leadership website was launched. While political bloggers weighed up Machiavellian theories of Lib Dem backstabbing, Iain Rubie Dale unveiled what he believed to be a major factor ... read more

With Brown dropping from the heights of his bounce, PMQs was a popular topic for many in the blogging community.

As the mainstream media focused on the agitated PM, Patriccus felt Brown did not come out the worst: “I actually thought that he gave the squeaking Ming Campbell a fairly easy ride, considering the fact that it has been the latter’s weak leadership that has led to the ... read more

And so to the final political conference of the season (with the exception of UKIP’s)…

If anyone ever doubted Steven Green of The Daily Referendum’s partisan credentials they should look no further than his summation on the morning of the conference’s second day: “There will be more excellent policies announced during today’s conference: all of which will make life a little brighter and a little fairer for us all.”

The dilemma of when Gordon Brown should call an election dominated the Labour party conference this week. In hotel bars and function rooms debates raged on about the strengths of 8 November compared to May 2009.

The debate was no less informed and eloquent on the blogosphere, especially at Harry’s Place.

As news broke that Labour was recruiting election staff on full time contracts, speculation grew that Brown would ... read more

With so much mainstream media attention at the Lib Dem conference focused on Ming’s leadership, you would be forgiven for thinking there was not a word spoken on policy. This prompted Richard Huzzey to write: “It’s a sad indictment of the media that a week-long conference discussing the pressing issues of the day hinges on whether a man says ‘there’s no vacancy’ or ‘I probably would’.” But ... read more

As news broke this week that Margaret Thatcher was returning to Downing Street to take tea with the present incumbent, BenedictBrogan wondered – in the light of Gordon Brown’s recent appointments – whether there was an ulterior motive: "Mr Brown has already riled the Tories by claiming that he – and not David Cameron – is a conviction politician of the Iron Lady mold. Might he go one ... read more

In a week where Gordon Brown stood legs akimbo across the centre ground and declared his admiration for Margaret Thatcher, stalwarts from both sides of the political spectrum let off time bombs within their own ranks.

George Galloway began by sending out a document to Respect’s National Congress members which argued for "re-evaluating" the party’s relationship with the SWP. It can be read in full here.

This sparked a ... read more

In an unprecedented turn of events, the blogosphere was focused on East Anglia for much of this week.

Recent reports of identity thieves finding a rich resource on Facebook were highlighted in the ongoing saga involving the profile on the social networking site of Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb. A brief history of which is covered at Lib Dem Voice.

The same IP address was shown to be ... read more

Three weeks into the August lull of political activity, and the UK blogosphere finally has something to get excited/agitated about. Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond, produced a white paper proposing full-scale devolution. An electronic debate ensued.

If the suggestion seemed a kick in the teeth to Gordon Brown, Elliot Joseph was none too sympathetic: "Over its 300 years a number of enemy powers have countenanced the overthrow of the ... read more

The silly season is well and truly upon us. Here is a collection of some of the more vapid themes across the UK’s political blogs:

Democracy is an odd thing. Dictators throughout history have warned of giving too much power to the masses and it was only a matter of time before the web – the most democratic platform to date – gave strength to that argument.

This week, ... read more

With Parliament now in recess and Middle England migrating to France for August, traditional media enters the silly season as news editors look to fill column inches. This period of wild rumours has found a natural home on the blogosphere.

The British blogging scene was salivating for a few hours at the possibility of a triumvirate of big political personalities clashing for the post of London Mayor with the rumour ... read more