Tuesday, February 20, 2007

One opinion poll – who cares?

Sitting on a plane at John Lennon airport and practicing my answer. Best be statesmanlike. Absolutely no gloating. No admitting that I read the front page of today’s telegraph about 6 times. Better pretend I’ve hardly noticed.

“It’s only an opinion poll – and the only poll that counts is the one on election night. We’ve come along way – but there’s still a mountain to climb. Etc etc.”

Today’s ICM poll for the Guardian gives the Cameron led Tories a 13 point lead over a Brown led Labour Party. The best polling position since 1992. Labour down to Michael Foot levels and the Liberal Democrats in retreat. Surely I can risk a smile.

I deny absolutely that my flying away to La Manga for 3 days golf is any sort of celebration. Because “it’s only an opinion poll – and the only poll that counts is the one on election night. We’ve come along way – but there’s still a mountain to climb. Etc etc.”

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

You're right Glyn. It is only one poll and the trouble is it doesn't actually (so far as we know) reflect opinion within Wales very well.
It would be a brave person who would feel as cheerful at the prospects for our May elections.
Anyway, if current opinion in Plaid is to be believed we Tories do want to do frightfully well in May but not so well that we overhall Plaid!
Our electoral system is strange enough - now we have Rainbow coalition led by Plaid= GOOD. Rainbow coalition led by Tories=BAD!
I can hardly wait for May 4th!

Glyn Davies said...

I am confident about Tory prospects in May - and so is Rhodri Morgan, Peter Hain, Tony Blair etc. by the sound of things. It would be a bit unprincipled of Plaid Cymru if its policy were to be "A Rainbow Coalition would be acceptable - as long as Ieuan Wyn Jones can be First Minister". I agree that May 4th is going to be interesting.