Mark Pack

1 week ago | theweekinpolls.substack.com | Mark Pack

Welcome to the 156th edition of The Week in Polls (TWIP) which takes an international tour of three other countries to see how populists are faring. Then it is a summary of the latest national voting intention polls and a round-up of party leader ratings, followed by, for paid-for subscribers, 10 insights from the last week’s polling and analysis. This time, those ten include what the public thinks of a ‘buy British’ campaign in response to Donald Trump’s tariffs.

1 week ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

Sky News reports Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper securing an important assurance from the government during the Parliamentary debate on emergency legislation to secure the future of the Scunthorpe steel works. After welcoming action to save the steel works, she went on to query the very broad powers the emergency legislation gives the government:[Daisy Cooper] says the Labour government is “trying to give itself unprecedented powers” in order to save British Steel.

1 week ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

The 2002 contest for Mayor of Newark generated an Oscar-nominated documentary. Street Fight is still a great watch, particularly as the winner, Corby Booker, is still very much in the political stage:The story in the film ends in 2005 and, without giving away any spoilers, it is afterwards well worth reading up on what happened next (which you can find easily online). Three other election documentaries to enjoy if you like this one:An African Election about the 2008 Ghana Presidential election.

1 week ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

Four principal authority council by-elections this week and let us start with a 14 percent swing from Conservatives to Lib Dems in Luke Taylor’s Westminster constituency:Congratulations to new councillor Choi Ka Yuen and the team. Next a ward without a Lib Dem last time but with one this time, continuing that Lib Dem progress in North Wales I’ve commented on before:Thank you to Andrew Joyce for getting the Lib Dems on the ballot paper.

2 weeks ago | markpack.org.uk | Mark Pack

… a healthy reminder of the benefits of putting up more council candidates, including in town and parish council elections given their increasing importance in a world in which large unitary authorities are spreading. The Melksham Independent News has the details:The Liberal Democrat group is set to gain control of Melksham Town Council after the town council elections on 1st May, following the release of the official list of candidates.