[Livia]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I think standard indicators are likely to be more than slightly off for the next general election to be honest - I think there stands to be an unusually large number of people at the polling stations who usually don't bother to vote at all. There specifically to vote "anti-Tory", or in other words mostly Labour (for lack of alternatives).

A year is a long time in politics but I don't think it's anywhere near long enough. The Tories would need not only to see an unprecedented upswing in the economy, but also a leap in both living standards and for a HUGE number of real (full time, contracted) jobs to suddenly become available.

I personally think it's highly unlikely that any economic recovery will trickle down to the average voter at any time before the next general election. It'll stay firmly in the pockets of a relative few.

I don't agree. I worked for the Tories until December and I have to say, their confidence grew significantly in the couple of months before I left. Like you say, a year is a long time, but the campaigns have started already. That's not to say that I support them, but I do think they're working hard to win back their core voters and I think it's beginning to work. But only time will tell... see you back here with joeysteele for the post-match analysis next year.