Comments on: Tony Blair “lead from the front” in by-elections? In WHAT universe Mr Cameron? http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/05/21/tony-blair-lead-from-the-front-in-by-elections-in-what-universe-mr-cameron/ "crass, boorish and more a bruiser than blogger" - Alex Wilcock Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:44:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: sanbikinoraion http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/05/21/tony-blair-lead-from-the-front-in-by-elections-in-what-universe-mr-cameron/#comment-183356 sanbikinoraion Thu, 22 May 2008 11:30:58 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/05/21/tony-blair-lead-from-the-front-in-by-elections-in-what-universe-mr-cameron/#comment-183356 There was a whole article on it on Radio 4 the other day with Simon Hughes and Steve Norris where it was alleged repeatedly that prime ministers did not campaign in by-elections by tradition, at least as far back as Thatcher, and almost certainly further since the 3rd panellist was some old Labour dude who was in a by-election in the 70s sometime. There was a whole article on it on Radio 4 the other day with Simon Hughes and Steve Norris where it was alleged repeatedly that prime ministers did not campaign in by-elections by tradition, at least as far back as Thatcher, and almost certainly further since the 3rd panellist was some old Labour dude who was in a by-election in the 70s sometime.

]]> By: James Graham http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/05/21/tony-blair-lead-from-the-front-in-by-elections-in-what-universe-mr-cameron/#comment-183343 James Graham Thu, 22 May 2008 10:19:21 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/05/21/tony-blair-lead-from-the-front-in-by-elections-in-what-universe-mr-cameron/#comment-183343 That's news to me Sandy. I haven't heard of it termed as a tradition (and since when did MPs' care about incumbency? They awarded themselves a £10,000 communications allowance last year which was a blatant act of incumbency protection), and I haven't heard of the notion that having the PM turn up to a by-election campaign actually gives the incumbent an advantage. It only helps if the PM is an asset. If the PM is a liability it hurts. That isn't an incumbency advantage - that's politics. That’s news to me Sandy. I haven’t heard of it termed as a tradition (and since when did MPs’ care about incumbency? They awarded themselves a £10,000 communications allowance last year which was a blatant act of incumbency protection), and I haven’t heard of the notion that having the PM turn up to a by-election campaign actually gives the incumbent an advantage.

It only helps if the PM is an asset. If the PM is a liability it hurts. That isn’t an incumbency advantage - that’s politics.

]]> By: sanbikinoraion http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/05/21/tony-blair-lead-from-the-front-in-by-elections-in-what-universe-mr-cameron/#comment-183336 sanbikinoraion Thu, 22 May 2008 09:37:33 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/05/21/tony-blair-lead-from-the-front-in-by-elections-in-what-universe-mr-cameron/#comment-183336 Er, doesn't the PM not campaign at by-elections by tradition, in order to limit the incumbency benefit? Er, doesn’t the PM not campaign at by-elections by tradition, in order to limit the incumbency benefit?

]]> By: RedOnTheTrain http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/05/21/tony-blair-lead-from-the-front-in-by-elections-in-what-universe-mr-cameron/#comment-183197 RedOnTheTrain Wed, 21 May 2008 19:40:23 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/05/21/tony-blair-lead-from-the-front-in-by-elections-in-what-universe-mr-cameron/#comment-183197 That was my reaction to the comment also, did El Gordo challenge it in his response? That was my reaction to the comment also, did El Gordo challenge it in his response?

]]>