BPIX Poll Gives Tories 19% Lead

A BPIX poll reported tonight for tomorrow’s Mail on Sunday shows a 19% Conservative lead over Labour:

            Conservative          45%

            Labour                       26%

            Lib Dem                    17%

Labour are clearly in deep, deep trouble!

New Poll – Tories Lead Jumps to 17%

There is a new poll reported tonight for tomorrow’s Sunday Telegraph showing a 17% Conservative lead – up 4% from the last ICM poll:

            Conservative          43% (down 1%)

            Labour                       26% (down 5%)

            Lib Dem                    21% (up 3%) 

This is the first suggestion of Labour taking a major hit from the recent stories of dirty tricks and smears. The Conservative drop of 1% is well within the margin of error but it is disappointing not to have seen at least a slight increase.

UPDATE: ConservativeHome has information that this poll is by a new company called “Marketing Sciences“, a sister company to ICM, hence the comparison with the last ICM poll.

Conservative Party – National Board Elections

I don’t usually post about internal Conservative Party matters here but there is an important election coming up to the Party Board. The Board is the most senior body within the party, other than the Leader and the Shadow Cabinet, and brings together the voluntary, elected and professional arms of the Conservative Party. The Board comprises various officers of the National Conservative Convention plus representatives of the MPs, MEPs, Cllrs and other party organisations.

I am delighted that Emma Pidding has been elected unopposed to the position of President of the National Convention. She is a decent and hard working individual who has made a real effort to get around the country and meet as many volunteers as possible.

The election for Chairman of the National Convention has three candidates:

            Sir Graham Bright

            Jeremy Middleton

            Simon Mort

Each of them has their merits but I only really know Simon Mort and Jeremy Middleton. Thus the choice for me is between those two. On balance I will probably vote for Jeremy Middleton although it is a close call.

For Vice President of the Convention there are three vacancies and four candidates:

            Charles Barwell

            Fiona Hodgson

            Cllr Paul Swaddle

            John Walsh

I have known Paul Swaddle for many years. He has been a Reading Conservative activist for many years and Chairman of both Reading constituency associations. He is now a Wokingham Borough Councillor as well as being Regional Chairman for the South East of England. In each office he has held he has brought an energy and campaigning enthusiasm that has shaken up some complacent attitudes and delivered impressive election victories. He was the campaign organiser who helped delivered the election victory in Reading East at the last General Election and he has been impressive in turning around a below par organisation in Reading West in recent years. I have no hesitation in supporting him for one of the Vice Presidency vacancies.

For those of us who have held constituency, area and regional office in the Party it is a welcome change to have a choice of candidates for these important posts. The Conservative Party has made great leaps forward in its organisation and use of technology in recent years and I know that there is much more to come. Paul Swaddle would be a new addition to the Board but his ability in both of these key areas would be a great asset to the party.