Gordon Brown Ring Tone
Until yesterday this was the statement Gordon Brown would least like to be reminded of.
In FireFox: Left click the link and select “Save Link As…” Upload the mp3 file to your mobile phone to use it as a ring tone. Annoy all Labour supporters in hearing distance whenever your phone rings.
Pass it on.
The ring tone can also be downloaded for free direct to your phone from Phonzoo. You will have to register with the site first.
Thanks to The Online Activist for the heads up on political ring tones.
The protest songs of the mobile age, political ring tones have become an effective method to deliver a political message. A short statement from a politician or public figure, the ring tone reminds all who hears of a famous quote or misquote.
They are easy to create and distribute. If the ring tone goes viral it can be very influential. In the Philippines 2005 the opponents of President Gloria Arroyo turned a censored recording into a ring tone that for a short while became the most downloaded tone in the world.
Oooops!
Popularity: 48% [?]
How Reliable are the Opinion Polls
Polls
Most polls have correction factors applied to the raw data. These correction factors are derived from previous elections actual results and the polled data. Feed back factors are calculated that, if applied, would have seen the polls accurately reflect the real outcome.
Pollsters then retrospectively rationalize the feed back factors created. The bottom line is no-one knows for sure why the raw data varies from how people actually vote.
This work fine if the situation has not greatly changed since the last election. This is clearly not the case in the present election. Hence any poll should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Popularity: 100% [?]
Britain Needs Electoral Reform
Britain’s first past the post system returns a single MP for a constituency. It favours parties which have geographically concentrated voters. A party which has widespread national support is either under-represented on not represented at all.
This has arguably served Britain well in the last century, when politics split the country in two. In modern Britain this is no longer the case. Opinion polls are currently showing a three way split between the main parties with smaller parties picking up about 10% of the vote.
The present system may deliver the ridiculous result that the party with the smallest share of the votes (less than 30% cast) could and up with the most seats in Parliament.
Popularity: 25% [?]
Why the Liberal Democrats Surged 10 Points in the Polls
There has been a lot of hype surrounding Nick Clegg’s performance in last week’s debate. The LibDems have gained an astonishing 10 points at the polls.
I watched the debate. Nick Clegg certainly came off best. But was it worth such a huge leap? He was good, but not THAT good.
So why are the LibDems now leading in some opinion polls? Previously the other two parties had presented the election as contest between themselves and no one else. A false choice. But with Nick Clegg showing himself to be a credible leader, the LibDems have become a real alternative.
Popularity: 29% [?]
Fear Mongering Tories Signal Business as Usual
Ken Clarke
In this morning’s press conference, former chancellor Kenneth Clarke let slip how little the Tory party has changed.
With the British electorate looking more and more likely to dump the discredited two party system, the shadow business secretary stooped to using fear to prop up the Tory vote.
He claimed if the electorate fail give one party an outright majority,”Bond markets won’t wait” and “Sterling will wobble.”
Popularity: 32% [?]
