Plenty of funny numbers and fast footwork when Fauxfax does a little poll dancing
ScoMo falls one point? Damning. David Crowe, The Sydney Morning Herald, September 16:
The danger for Scott Morrison and his government is laid bare in one of the key findings in this latest poll. A quick glance shows that Morrison has a sizeable lead over Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister, 47 to 37 per cent. But … Morrison has gone slightly backwards. Turnbull led by 48 to 36 per cent. This is a damning finding …
Labor falls two points? Just the margin of error. David Crowe, The Sydney Morning Herald, September 16:
Australian voters have given Prime Minister Scott Morrison the edge on key leadership qualities like trust and economic management, rating him ahead of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on seven key attributes including his vision for Australia’s future, where the Prime Minister leads by 51 to 47 per cent, and competence, where he leads by 64 to 57 per cent … In a sign the government’s attacks on Mr Shorten’s union background may be working, 50 per cent of voters believe the Labor leader is “easily influenced by minority groups” compared to only 38 per cent for Mr Morrison.
… Mr Morrison is considered trustworthy by 49 per cent of voters compared to 39 per cent who favour Mr Shorten, .... grasp of economic policy is backed by 66 per cent of voters compared to 47 per cent who prefer his rival … Labor has lost some ground against the government over the four weeks since the last Fairfax-Ipsos survey, when Labor led by 55 to 45 per cent in two-party terms but the shift is within the margin of error …
Ballot nearly cost Tony his seat? Bevan Shields, The Sydney Morning Herald, September 16:
The Liberal Party is under pressure to reveal the results of a damaging secret ballot that nearly cost Tony Abbott his seat … Mr Abbott’s plan to recontest the seat was rocked by a protest vote that may have seen him secure as little as 55 per cent of votes during a fiery preselection endorsement meeting on Friday night … “It has become apparent that this will be Abbott’s last term,” one member said … Fairfax Media has been told Mr Abbott … was backed by 46 members, while 38 others rejected his renomination … Mr Abbott … insists he achieved roughly 70 per cent support.
Fauxfax wrong, Abbott right. Bevan Shields, The Sydney Morning Herald, September 17:
The NSW Liberal Party says Tony Abbott secured 68 per cent support in his preselection ballot.
Thumbs up from the Wizard. Henry Zeffman, The Times, August 3:
A white supremacist and former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan praised the election of Jeremy Corbyn to the Labour leadership as a sign people were recognising “Zionist power” and “Jewish establishment power”.
They just don’t get irony. Jake Wallis Simons, Daily Mail, August 24:
(Jeremy Corbyn said at meeting in 2013:) ... having lived in this country for a very long time, probably all their lives, (English Zionists) don’t understand English irony.
Anti-Semitic? Just ask his friends. Howard Jacobson, speech published in The Jewish Chronicle, London, September 9:
Something tells me you’re expecting me to call Jeremy Corbyn an anti-Semite. There’s been a bit about it in the press, and I … well, you know … But I’m not going to call him anything. He says he isn’t an anti-Semite, Hamas says he isn’t an anti-Semite, the white supremacist David Duke says he isn’t an anti-Semite, and that’s good enough for me. Am I being ironical? Ladies and gentlemen, I’m incapable of irony.