Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for 10 years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
Firstly they reproduce a snippet from The Independent saying Poll finds public backs Davis on 42-day detention... which then goes on to show that 65% of respondents either wouldn't vote for him or 'don't know', and that only 39% of people thought he was right to resign on the issue. They then say that...
the national survey found that respondents would give him strong support if they were able to vote in the forthcoming by-election.
Now whilst I understand that they are disregarding those who say they wouldn't vote in order to replicate some sort of election result, to imply that the fact that 33% of people wouldn't vote in an election is stating that they are 'giving him strong support' seems to be stretching credibility. Surely in a contest in which the other two major parties are not standing the response of 33% saying they wouldn't vote is more likely to mean they don't actually support him.
Political Betting follow that up with a sub heading stating that 'Nearly three electors in five say they would vote for him'. Well, again, that just isn't true. 56% of respondents actually said they would not vote for him.
It's like the cat food adverts, 'nine out of 10 owners who expressed a preference said their cat preferred it'. The other forced moggy to eat food s/he didn't like.
Not really, Stephen, because in this case The indy and Political Betting seem to be counting the 33% who said they wouldn't vote as if they were irrelevant, and therefore saying they were implicitly backing Davis. It's perverse.
June 17, 2008 1:49 PM | permalink
It's like the cat food adverts, 'nine out of 10 owners who expressed a preference said their cat preferred it'. The other forced moggy to eat food s/he didn't like.