Election News Archive

Tory lead cut to five points

The Conservative lead over Labour in the polls has been cut to just five points, as David Cameron prepares to rally Tory activists at the party's spring conference this weekend.

Westminster 'twitchy' over election date

Nick Assinder on rumours sweeping the palace that Gordon Brown might use this weekend to announce the general election date.

Health spending to be protected

Key policy points from the three main parties on health.

Environment and energy go green

Key policy points from the three main parties on energy and the environment.

Keeping Britain moving

Key policy points from the three main parties on work and transport.

Minister refuses to speculate on election date

Justice minister Lord Bach dodged quesitons on the date of the election in the Lords this afternoon, but expressed support for the count to be held on the night voters go to the polls, whenever that may be.

Llywd downbeat about chance of reform

The leader of Plaid Cymru's MPs has said it is unlikely that the Wright committee's "worthwhile" suggestions for Commons reform will be fully implemented.

Polls suggest hung Parliament

Support for the Conservative Party has tightened in recent days, making the prospect of a hung Parliament look increasingly likely, two opinion polls have shown.

Britain 'heading for hung Parliament'

'New' Labour slogan from 2003

Plaid dubious about Brown's appeal to progressives

The leader of Plaid Cymru at Westminster has said he is sceptical about the prime minister's call on progressives to come together to fight the Tories.

PM attacks 'same old Tories' as campaign begins

The prime minister today fired the starting gun on the general election with a speech in which he reached out to "progressives of every hue".

Brown: A future fair for all is in your hands

You know somebody asked me the other day what my secret weapon was for the election. I think they were expecting me to say those airbrushed posters.

Ieuan Wyn Jones on capital, confidence and coalitions

Ieuan Wyn Jones, the leader of Plaid Cymru, was in upbeat mood when we spoke today at the party's pre-election conference in Cardiff.

Plaid rejects formal coalition at Westminster

Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cyrmu would not consider entering into a formal coalition at Westminster in the event of a hung parliament, the party's leader has said.

Plaid attacks 'phoney war' between main parties

The "London parties" came under repeated attack at the Plaid Cymru pre-election conference in Cardiff today.

Week in Westminster

Richard Hall runs the rule over the ranks of MPs who are leaving the Commons at the general election.

Goodbye Mondeo man, hello Waitrose Woman

Gone are the days of the Mondeo Man, today it seems politics is all about the Waitrose Woman and her partner Johnny Lewis.

Hard times for independent minds

Douglas Hogg savours his memories as a minister, but ascribes his decision to stand down from Parliament to frustration on the back benches – and not a little bitterness over how his expense claims were represented by the press.

Labour to unveil election slogan

Gordon Brown will use a speech this weekend to launch Labour's election slogan and campaign themes.

Plaid conference opens in Cardiff

Plaid Cymru's pre-election conference began today in Cardiff with proposals on the economy.

Labour's Bruce George to stand down

A veteran MP has announced he is to stand down after 36 years in the Commons.

Labour accused of using regional cabinets for political gain

Minsters are in the North of England today to take part in a series of engagements, before convening for a Cabinet meeting in Durham.

A guide to surviving as a PPC

Richard Robinson, winner of the ePolitix.com Report of the Year Award at the 2010 Researchers' Awards, reflects on the ups and downs of life as an aspiring MP.

Strict timetable regulates dissolution

While Gordon Brown may announce the general election date at a time of his choosing, the run up to any polling day is governed by a strict timetable.

Justice committee to consider hung parliament

A special one-off evidence session will be held by the Commons justice committee next week to consider the constitutional implications of a hung parliament.

MP claims Twitter account was sabotaged

An MP has said his Twitter feed is being interfered with after it featured comments referring to the Conservatives as 'scum-sucking pigs'.

Tories party of the 'mainstream majority'

David Cameron made a bid to widen his party's support this morning, as he unveiled the Conservative Party's latest campaign posters.

Row over minority Tory candidates

David Cameron was caught up in another row over Conservative Party selection policy last night.

Cameron: It's us or five more years of Gordon

David Cameron has told his party's Scottish conference that the voters face a stark choice at the next election.

WinkBall unveils latest online election tool

The 2010 general election is already being touted as the most internet-influenced in British history, with bloggers, tweeters and viral marketers all emphasising its pivotal role.

Cameron decontaminates the brand, but will it be enough?

Professor Paul Whiteley looks at polling evidence ahead of the general election.

Hung out to dry?

With the polls narrowing of late, and Labour expected to benefit from the vagaries of the current electoral system, serious attention is being paid to the possibility of a hung Parliament. Robert Orchard explores the constitutional ramifications of the failure of one party to command a Commons majority, looking back to 1974 for clues.

Scaling a new political peak

Pauline Latham has enjoyed a long and successful career in Derbyshire politics, and she is now seeking to bring her experience to bear at Westminster.

Punch and Judy turn out for referendum debate

Last night saw a hefty win for the government on a referendum in 2011 on adopting an alternative vote system to elect our MPs.

Pre-election TV debate format remains unresolved

Manifestos 'make all the right sounds'

ePolitix.com speaks to Phil Orford, chief executive of the Forum of Private Business, about the work of the organisation and government support for small businesses.

A legitimate alternative?

This week MPs will have the chance to vote on kick-starting a process that could change the way the country votes at general elections. But what would a switch to the Alternative Vote system really mean? Sam Macrory reports.

Standing down

Sir Michael Spicer reflects on a career that brought ministerial office and a role at the centre of Tory party politics.

Top Ten: Election stunts

Election campaigns are both meticulously planned, and exercises in coping with the unexpected. But not every stunt goes to plan.

MP to take 'once in a lifetime opportunity'

A former minister is to leave the Commons at the next election to take a new job he described as a "once in a lifetime opportunity".

More Labour MPs to stand down at election

Former minister Doug Touhig has announced he is to retire from the Commons.

Apprenticed in all trades

Over 20 years elapsed between Liz Leffman joining the SDP and running for Parliament as a Lib Dem, but in between, she gained key skills in management and the voluntary sector – and built up a business of her own

Call for tougher limits on poll spending

Excessive spending by political parties in marginal seats is a "corruption or the political process," the House of Lords has heard.

Tributes paid to MP as thoughts turn to by-election

Parliamentary researcher Matt Mulley examines the case for a by-election following the death of North West Leicestershire MP David Taylor.

Voters 'prefer attractive politicians'

Blair to fight election campaign for Labour

Tony Blair is to return to UK politics to campaign for the Labour Party ahead of the general election, Lord Mandelson has confirmed.

Hesford to stand down at election

A Labour MP who resigned last year as a PPS in protest at the behaviour of the attorney general has announced he will not contest the next general election.

Week in Westminster

The bitter post-election ‘honeymoons’ faced by Barack Obama and Margaret Thatcher offer lessons to Labour and the Conservatives, writes Richard Hall.

Blood is thicker than Labour

Although Derek Wyatt came within a hair’s breadth of ministerial office, he now finds the ratio of personal sacrifice to political glory too low to stand again

Showdown in the shires

With Conservative constituency associations already suspicious of edicts from the top, David Cameron faces further rumblings about centralised control of candidate-selection. Sam Macrory assesses the danger

MPs should start 'dialogue' over election counts

MPs concerned about when votes in the next general election should talk to returning officers in their constituency.

Postal voting defended by 'gobsmacked' minister

A "vast proportion" of postal votes are fraudulent, according to the Conservative Party.

Bercow lends support to election night count

The Speaker of the House of Commons has said local councils should count the votes at the general election just after the polls close.

Speaker backs election night count

The Speaker of the House of Commons has said local councils should count the votes at the general election just after the polls close.

Week in Westminster

Richard Hall explores how 2010 could measure up to the ‘landmark’ elections of the post-war years

The circle-dancing democrat

In fighting the unorthodox geography of York Outer, James Alexander believes his fresh ideas and commitment to ‘pavement politics’ will be key assets

Brown attacks 'airbrushed' Cameron at PMQs

Gordon Brown traded blows with David Cameron over the Conservative party's advertising campaign at prime minister's questions today.

Frank and Dave, an usual double act

The press turned out in force to see David Cameron share a stage with welfare renegade Frank Field.

Maples to stand down at election

Another senior Conservative MP has announced he will not contest the next election.

Greens 'set for Commons seat'

The Green Party is on course to get its first MP, according to the Independent.

Recording a parliamentary life

Though the post of international development secretary eluded him, Chris Mullin tells Sam Macrory he is proud of his personal campaigns as an MP and gratified by the reception to his recently published diaries in Parliament and the press

Election year explodes

Chris Moncrieff offers his take on the world of Westminster.

Votes should be cast for people, 'not parties'

Lord Alton of Liverpool writes for ePolitix.com ahead of his motion for a short debate on the implications of different electoral systems.

Ainsworth to stand down at election

A senior Conservative MP has announced he will not contest the next election. Peter Ainsworth has represented East Surrey since 1992.