Since we last discussed the political arena Chloe Smith (Con) won the Norwich North by-election with a huge 16.5% swing away from (Lab) which will continue to serve as an embarrassment to #GoBro over the summer and will also continue to undermine his position as leader until he is finally ousted.

Economic Policy; be economic with words!

I believe we can and will win the next election

AM…even under Gordon Brown?

…absolutely

I’m not sure if anyone else picked up on this quote but it is very interesting and I have no doubt in believing that not only does our dear Chancellor believe this is the case, I too believe that the PLP WILL win the next election!

There, i’ve said it.

What we must consider at this stage is exactly what the Chancellor said and exactly what he didn’t say. Taking the quote from above it is all very clear, but where is the word ‘General‘?

It seems the Chancellor would have us believe one thing while meaning an entirely different thing; nothing new there then.

When Speaker Martin was forced to resign it left a vacant position in Glasgow North East. This seat is to be contested in a November by-election which is, at best guess a full 4 or 5 months before a General Election.

Given that Glasgow is traditionally a very strongly held Labour region (notwithstanding Glasgow East shifting to the SNP last summer) I fully expect the PLP to hold Glasgow North East although with a vastly reduced majority from Speaker Martin’s 10,134.

This could be a natural shift though as the following results highlight:
1997 Labour majority 17,326
2001 Labour majority 11,378
2005 Labour majority 10,134
2009 Labour majority 4,500?

If Labour do win Glasgow North East it would be both a timely and convenient moment for #GoBro to move aside in the best interests of the party whilst also stating he has turned Labour’s recent misfortunes around.

Alistair Darling’s economic policy is to be economic with words and with Labour in such dire straits who can blame him?