I read today’s article in the Manchester Evening News headlined “C-Charge On A Knife Edge” with interest. It claims the “latest polling figures” show a narrow majority in favour of introducing the Charge, but that only six boroughs would vote in favour. Seven are required for a successful “yes” vote.
However I’m a little uncertain as to where these figures have come from. Despite describing them as the “latest polling figures”, the article goes on to say that the headline numbers are the result of ”canvassing of more than 5,000 people across the region” (my bold) which was “commissioned by the Yes campaign”.
So was this a properly-conducted poll, or just a bunch of canvassing done by the Yes campaign? If it is the former, then we could well be set for a tight finish, although the figures do seem a little odd. I find it unlikely that Bury will vote yes whilst Rochdale votes no. If it is the latter, then the article and the statistics that prompted it are pretty much worthless.
Thoughts On The Pre-Budget Report
It seems our local Labour Council and the national Labour Government have much in common when it comes to dealing with financial affairs. Both are happy to waste taxpayers’ money until it is all gone.
Here in Salford, Labour have dipped into reserves so often that there is now nothing left, and our capital programme is being financed by millions of pounds of unsupported borrowing. Nationally, Alastair Darling’s plans mean that our national debt is set to double to £1 trillion. Both locally and nationally taxpayers will end up paying a huge bill for Labour’s financial irresponsibility.