All up in the air: the PBR could go either way |

Tuesday 8th December 2009 | 15:38

All up in the air: the PBR could go either way

With the polls tightening, the political community is waiting to see if the PBR proves to be a decisive moment

Will Alistair Darling’s pre-Budget report and its aftermath end up being a better time politically for Labour or the Conservatives?

When PoliticsHome put this question to its insider panel – comprised of Parliamentarians, journalists, strategists and think tank leaders from across the parties – it produced one of the most divided results in the history of the Phi100, emphasising the current state of flux within the Westminster village.

35% believe it is Labour’s week, 33% believe the Conservatives will rally, whilst 32% can’t call it either way.

There was even a lack of confidence from within the parties – only half of Conservative-aligned panellists and 42% of Labour-aligned panellists predict their own party will benefit.

'Advance briefing may be misleading'

A right-aligned media figure said, “The Conservatives will come out of it better. There has never been a ‘Budget bounce’ for the government in recent years. The state of the public finances ensures there won't be one this year either.”

A journalist said, “Labour…but for how long?”

Another media figure said, “It will be the Conservatives. Either the pre-Budget report will tell the truth, in which case the full horror of our economic predicament will be exposed to voters, or it will be a joke, which will expose Labour as lying to voters.”

A right-aligned commentator said, “I don’t know…advance briefing may be misleading.”

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