by Andrew Hawkins / 16 Apr 2010
Andrew Hawkins on why he predicts a Conservative majority of 30 to 50During the election campaign, the three most frequent questions I get asked as a pollster are: what is the likelihood of a hung Parliament? Aren't the marginals different from the national picture? And, given a tired and long-serving government which oversaw the worst economic crisis in the last 80 years, why aren't the Conservatives doing better?On the simple numbers, it is of course a challenge for the Tories, who need to win 117 seats to get a majority of just one.
by Yes: Rachel Reeves; No: George Parker / 16 Apr 2010
Yes, the clear choice of political philosophies that the electorate faces ensures they engage with politicians, says Rachel Reeves, Labour parliamentary candidate for Leeds West.
by Anonymous / 16 Apr 2010
Lords serving as cabinet ministers and the credibility of the lobbying profession fill our postbags this monthConstitutionally properLord Adonis is right that there's nothing constitutionally improper for cabinet members who run departments to sit in the House of Lords (TP, April).
by Anonymous / 19 Mar 2010
You tell us your thoughts on TV leaders' debates, Sir Nicholas Winterton's views on class and the taboo of mental health in politics
Letter of the month
Inclusive TV debatesIt's good to see Total Politics take up the issue of the TV debates with a dialogue between Tim Montgomerie and Adam Boulton.
by Anonymous / 19 Mar 2010
It's still possible to see off the extremist threat.
by Andrew Hawkins / 19 Mar 2010
Andrew Hawkins examines whether people will be turned on or off voting in the 2010 electionOne question on many minds as the general election approaches is what level of turnout we're likely to see, what impact a low turnout could have on the result and whether the smaller parties are really in with a chance this time.
by Yes: Sir Richard Leese; No: Mark Field MP / 19 Mar 2010
London is a truly global, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural metropolis.
by Yes: Adam Boulton; No: Tim Montgomerie, / 19 Feb 2010
The leaders of the three biggest political parties will face each other live in three TV debates leading up to the general election.
by Anonymous / 19 Feb 2010
This month we received post about negative campaigning from the Lib Dems and shocking election results on the Isle of Wight
Letter of the monthLib Dem tacticsBen Duckworth rightly queries the Lib Dems entitlement to the "clean politics" mantle in his interview with Nick Clegg (TP February).
by Anonymous / 19 Feb 2010
The only way for politicians to counter the animosity towards them is to follow words with action
MPs have been getting emotional lately; not surprisingly with their destiny to be decided shortly in a general election.
by Andrew Hawkins / 19 Feb 2010
Understanding the differences in political attitudes between men and women is vital to election planning, says Andrew HawkinsAmerican relationship counsellor John Gray's seminal work Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus was predicated on one central assumption: that men and women are just as different as beings from other planets.
by Anonymous / 22 Jan 2010
You let us know your thoughts on electoral rules, the system of elected mayors and party ideology
Letter of the monthIdeology existsFurther to your article on 'party beliefs' (TP, Jan) I believe that a strong ideology was at the heart of my decision to both join the party nearly 13 years ago and then stand as a prospective MP.
by Anonymous / 16 Apr 2010
"I can assure you that I am now at the height of my popularity in Flanders.
by Mark Fox / 16 Apr 2010
Mark Fox on the similarities between reviving a business and rejuvenating politics
Every retail or service provider knows that the secret to a successful business is to provide a high quality product efficiently.
by Ben Duckworth / 16 Apr 2010
Ben Duckworth says this will be the first really competitive election fight since 1992Welcome to the Total Politics 2010 general election issue.
by Ben Duckworth / 19 Mar 2010
Ben Duckworth says blackballing Nick Griffin and his party no longer works.
by Niall Paterson / 19 Mar 2010
Rude tweets, grammatical issues and no end in sight about questions on Lord AshcroftTwo stories have obsessed the Westminster village of late: the closing of the gap in the polls, and the unimaginatively-titled "Bullygate" revelations.
by Anonymous / 19 Mar 2010
"If I was in standard class I would not do work because people would be looking over your shoulder the entire time.
by Mark Fox / 19 Mar 2010
Mark Fox says the business community will be taking a keen interest in the BudgetThe chancellor will be walking a fi ne line in this year's Budget.
by Mark Fox / 19 Feb 2010
Mark Fox says businesses must hold firm while parties focus on short term targetsA general election is now only weeks away.
by Ben Duckworth / 19 Feb 2010
Ben Duckworth on learning from our political elders and the hype of the leaders' debates
We discuss the departing generation of MPs in the leader overleaf, but do check out Amber Elliott's article about them on p14.
by Cathy Newman / 19 Feb 2010
Enjoying exotic written evidence and abandoning plans to toboggan in Derbyshire
A very gossipy lunch with a top Tory.
by Anonymous / 19 Feb 2010
"Many readers will be aware that I am at the moment a guest of the United States.
by Ben Duckworth / 22 Jan 2010
Ben Duckworth on why Nick Clegg comes across as a man itching to go placesWelcome to the first issue of Total Politics published in 2010.
