A big week for Gordon Brown and Labour - and we're kicking it off with a webchat between the three main candidates in Crewe and Nantwich.
It could be sparky, what with all the mudslinging and "dirty tricks" that are enlivening events on the ground.
In separate interviews this morning, Ed Miliband (with Adam) and Harriet Harman (on the Politics Show) were clearly ill at ease when probed about the legitimacy of the "Tory Toffs" line.
So seconds out, don't miss Tamsin Dunwoody, Edward Timpson and Elizabeth Shenton here and in association with the Crewe blog at 9 o'clock Monday morning.
UPDATE: Watch the debate LIVE, here.
Written by Joey Jones, 19 May 2008
Victor
You mention the Mirror...what is it with Kevin Maguire, I think he works for the Mirror, he is totally obsessed with Gordon Brown and what a great job he is doing for Britain, and trashes Cameron at every opportunity.
Maguire has either been brainwashed or could he be in the pay of the Labour party. Maguire needs to book his beach hut in Bogner forthwith before the men in the "white coats" arrive.
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 20 May 2008 09:27:08
E Welshman.
Fear not, the BBC have always been very biased towards the government of the day, they probably went out of their way to find the few Labour supporters who are "die hard".
There have been polls recently which show Brown to be the most unpopular PM ever, 59% of people wanted him gone, and they want him to take his party with him, Britain has suffered enough.
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 20 May 2008 09:17:50
E Welshman
I suspect your polling question is more a reflection of BBC reporting than Sky!
Posted by: Bill, Middle England 20 May 2008 06:32:03
At least the 'toffs have their own money. Give me that any day than the horrific greed shown by the likes of the Blairs and Kinnocks no name just two. As said above most of the Cabinet have been privately or selectively educated and I would bet that not many of their kids to go the local schools. Since most people say they would educate their children privately if they could afford it, this sort of 'class war' if just silly and an insult to the voters. This is funny since Labour have fielded a candidate who expects to inherit her mother's seat, this is socialism?
Posted by: Carol Kent 20 May 2008 00:35:32
Well, thats the bbc for you as we all know totally neutral of course!!!
Posted by: Sanity calling 19 May 2008 22:34:33
Welshman
Haven't seen it, but hope they have only asked voters within Labour and Liberal head offices. lol
Posted by: neither/niether 19 May 2008 19:16:20
E. Welshman
The BBC is careful what they show. The "interviews" are all screened before showing. It is in the Beeb's interest to play down Conservative chances as they are almost the last bastion of left-wing propaganda remaining as the Guardian is sitting on the fence whilst the Mirror is laughable.
Posted by: Victor, NW Kent 19 May 2008 18:25:30
What do you mean when you say that the Conservatives are doing well in Crewe & Nantwich?
I've just watched the BBC news and they can't seem to find a person to interview who intends to vote Conservative. Amongst those they have interviewed, 2 to 1 say they will vote Labour or LibDem.
Where are you getting your polling figures from?
Posted by: E Welshman 19 May 2008 16:59:31
re: Anne 19 May 2008 12:57:36
The peasants remark was just an illustration of what a corresponding opposite remark would be compared to "tory toffs".
It's just used to illustrate how nasty a "tory toff" campaign is, because swapping it over to say "labour peasants" (ie the corresponding opposite) would instantly turn-off every single vote for the party that said it.
So, what I was saying was that for labour to have stooped so low as to refer to "tory toffs" is almost as bad as reverting to something like racism, and I hope their voters knock them out for it.
Besides which, as everybody knows, the labour set in power are mostly just as much "toffs" as the tories are. The difference with labour is that they use inverted false snobbery.
Posted by: Steve, London 19 May 2008 13:41:45
"it would be reasonable for the tories to have a campaign which would talk about "labour peasants?"
Posted by: Steve, London 18 May 2008 16:49:21
Are you being deliberately obtuse? Tories already refer to Labour supporters (or non Tory supporters to be more accurate) as scroungers, client state, workshy etc. which is of course such an inducement for these good folk to vote Tory. Not.
Posted by: Anne 19 May 2008 12:57:36
The "Champagne Socialists" have shown their true colours.Most privately educated with their offspring in private schools are treating the poorer classes as "PEASANTS"
Unfortunately for them they have made a big mistake as most are hard working people who have a brain and can think for themselves.Labour activists in Crewe dressed up as Toffs are themselves privately educated and must think that the good people in Crewe are thick and stupid.Shame on the Champagne Socialists for insulting them.
Posted by: G.KING SUSSEX 19 May 2008 11:53:10
What about this one?
If you're on benefits (ie taxpayers money) and can save some money, the Government will match your savings (ie even more taxpayers money).
Is this prudent? Is this how to build a thriving economy?
Posted by: John (Northumberland) 19 May 2008 11:32:35
New Labour are a bunch of hypocrites. Most of the Labour front bench have been privately educated and been to the top universities. New Labour cannot be described as working class, they are even criticised by members of their own party for being
"The Islington dinner party set".
New Labour have done a lot of damage in their years in power, now they are out of favour with the public, they may as well call a general election because if this situation continues for another two years, with Gordon Brown as PM they may never see power again, it will be the political wilderness for them.
It would have been great to have seen the debate on TV, as I am not able to watch on line, but I am sure Sky will some some snippets.
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 19 May 2008 09:41:55
If labour's "tory toff" argument is a legally/politically valid one as Ed Miliband suggests, then does Tamsin think that it would be reasonable for the tories to have a campaign which would talk about "labour peasants?"
Posted by: Steve, London 18 May 2008 16:49:21
Sir Joey
Ths far as matters pertaining the slinging of md within the [Shalimar] gardens, then party politcs plays much havoc with the minds as Lord Woolfe duly stated earlier. The act of status slinging with tops & tails is just as childish as many a policy thereafter. Nonetheless, get ready for [A Night To Remember]!
Posted by: Khalid 18 May 2008 16:28:51
Joey,
Edward Timpson must be delightd that Ed. Miliband is supporting M/s Dunwoody, as for the Conservatives this is definitely a case of 'two Ed.'s are better than one'!
Posted by: Merv. Beszant, Dubai 18 May 2008 16:23:47
The encounter may turn into a "mud wrestling" match.
Labour are experts at dirty tricks...take the 10p tax saga, I think that pretty much sums up where Labour stand, tax the public if you can get away with it, if you come unstuck do a quick
u-turn...how pathetic!
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 18 May 2008 16:13:08