Of course Brown should have the job....who else have they got ? It is Buggins Turn after all until Euan comes to claim his inheritance.......Brown is only the stop-gap anyway
Presumably the 100 people questioned were "opinion formers" within the Smith Insitute, Brownite MPs and Guardian journalists?
At least that means there are at least 100 people in the UK who will vote for BL in 2010. For the rest of us there's Dave.
February 26, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Anonymous
said...
Cue Sith spamming:
Poll is scientific based on same method HM Treasury calculates PSBR.
What is wrong with having Gordon's favourite pollster on the board of an independent charity that uses No.11 every week?
It is a coincidence if she does a poll that finds out Gordon is 110% popular and it has nothing whatsoever to do with her lucrative HM Treasury contract. That wouldn't cross subsidise it at all.
It is an old story, these are not the scams you are looking for, move along.
February 26, 2007 at 12:02 PM
Anonymous
said...
It's a tricky business !!
February 26, 2007 at 12:04 PM
Anonymous
said...
I think it says it all when you look on the Opinion Leader website and it says The full breakdown of the poll is available here: and no link! At least the Gruniad recognises it for what it is as "Broons allies talk up support...." 100 figures in business (hmm clearly they have been talking to Crapita, EDS and Accenture), politics (Labour MPs hoping for a job), the media (the Gruniad and the BBC) and charidee (hehe). Deborah do you think there might be just a little sample bias in your clearly scientifically and statistially weighted, chosen 100? Can we have the names, so we can have a good laugh? Face it Brown is about as popular with the middle-england electorate as someone with syphilis at an swingers party.
PS how much do pollsters get paid? I reckon I could do a decent job phoning up 100 people and asking them for their opinion. Easy money.
February 26, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Anonymous
said...
So let me get this straight. A woman who is on the board of Gordon Brown's pet think tank, has worked for the Labour Party and gets paid money by the Treasury is pumping out dodgy polls that show that Brown is more popular than Cameron.
So she's got no axe to grind then...
February 26, 2007 at 12:10 PM
Anonymous
said...
Defending the Indefensible
Just wonder a a coward would have coped in the heat of war in afghanistan or Iraq- when he has bloody starved the boys of cash and equipment? and has Cyclops ever visited any wounded soldiers, or spoken to relatives?
think I know the answer to that one as well, don't need a bloody fake poll to work that one out
February 26, 2007 at 12:10 PM
Anonymous
said...
Me thinks there is something rotten in the state of Sith they doth protest too much!
February 26, 2007 at 12:10 PM
Anonymous
said...
Where are the astro-turfers, I could do with some comedy?
February 26, 2007 at 12:11 PM
Anonymous
said...
Great piece Guido - outstanding work.
Astro-turfers currently being briefed, expect imminent arrival.
February 26, 2007 at 12:14 PM
Anonymous
said...
Opinion Leader Research...are they reading Tony's tea leaves?
I am an opinion leader, please may I take part in your next poll, Deborah seems to have missed me this time.
Regards
Ronnie
PS Where should I send this month's cheque as the Smith Institute been rumbled?
PPS Great speech at Toyota at Derby this morning.
February 26, 2007 at 12:23 PM
Anonymous
said...
With the last data set available on the OLR website ( collected last October) showing GB's "integrity rating at about the same as DC - 66% - it appears that the only area where the response was markedly higher was Scotland - 82%. So if you sample 100 Scottish opinion formers who all vote labour you presumably can boost that up to 82% and then look at all the demonstrations of integrity over the last 4 months from GB to explain how the rest have been converted...
February 26, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Anonymous
said...
What if Daffy Millyblink wins?
Will Debby be able to live off the slim pickings in Sith. Maybe she should be sensible and hedge her bets and start grovelling to Daffy and Dave.
February 26, 2007 at 12:27 PM
Anonymous
said...
Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders follow Gordon to his grave.
February 26, 2007 at 12:28 PM
Anonymous
said...
Poor Gordon, reality bites: "He was a man Of unbounded stomach, ever ranking Himself with princes; His own opinion was his law. I'th'presence [i.e. of the King] He would say untruths and be ever double Both in his words and meaning. He was never, But where he meant to ruin, pitiful. His promises were, as he then was, mighty, But his performance, as he is now, nothing."
February 26, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Anonymous
said...
Astro-turfers now straining at the leash, waiting for the off. The Dark Lord ponders his options before releasing the hounds of doom!!
February 26, 2007 at 12:43 PM
Anonymous
said...
astro-turfing ; the graceless action of a clunking fist.
Guido that is whay you are the top of this tree. Fucking brilliant and crucial. This is not an old story to me and nor will it be to the many people reading their paper over their alpen and toast. I hope the Press pick this angle up.
This sort of thing really hurts
February 26, 2007 at 12:47 PM
Anonymous
said...
The problem with a clunking fist is that it can't do subtle spin.
February 26, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Anonymous
said...
Time for Osborne to do a DD and announce that an incomming Govt will be having an official review of recent spin contracts, with the intention of clawing back monies from parties who were awarded them under dubious cicumstances. A simple one clause commitment in the manifesto would allow that. Good work Guido !! PS was sir michael an opinion leader ? Let the people know !
February 26, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Anonymous
said...
PRT Online Command said...
Meanwhile back at the Political Research Taskforce HQ...
PRT lackey : Lord Brown, it seems that the rebels have discovered that one lone X-wing blogger can evade our defensive spin shield.
DB : Prepare my escape craft fools.
February 26, 2007 at 1:00 PM
Anonymous
said...
And just what the hell is an "opinion leader"? Who decides, do you qualify, sit an exam, do you get a certificate? Or do you simply agree to brown nose Brown? So many questions and it's only Monday!
Let me get this straight. They hand pick a group of 100 people, arbitrarily declare them 'opinion leaders', and then deign to tell us that standard opinion polling is in error?
What's next? A series of dismal opinion polls for Brown, consistently 'rebutted' by more 'opinion leader' surveys, ever more swivel-eyed hagiographies, Diebold voting machines and Bob's your uncle, or rather, Gordon is your 'elected' (nudge nudge, wink wink) PM....
February 26, 2007 at 1:13 PM
Anonymous
said...
The Guardian is damaged by using such shoddy crap fake polls as well - funny about The Sun though, Methinks the long hand of Rupert
February 26, 2007 at 1:16 PM
Anonymous
said...
Astro-turfers on the horizon, hold the line boys, hold the line. When you see the whites of their eyes, let them have it!
February 26, 2007 at 1:18 PM
Anonymous
said...
...even the Astro-turfers are too embarassed to wade in...
February 26, 2007 at 1:25 PM
Anonymous
said...
Shows what utter lazy mugs the media know us to be.The result is Blair and his like.Terrible.
February 26, 2007 at 1:32 PM
Anonymous
said...
What an insecure twat Gordimmo is. If his trolls need to do this to assuage his ego! Far better to just change his nappy and put him back on the rocking horse, with his favourite dummy.
February 26, 2007 at 1:36 PM
Anonymous
said...
Astro-turf sturmtruppen currently pinned down in skirmishing actions on the BBC front!
February 26, 2007 at 1:37 PM
Anonymous
said...
Well done Guido for revealing this so-called "pollsters" Brownite links.
Now, would it be too much to expect Cameron and co to start making some political capital out of shyster Brown's latest attempt to con the public?
They are supposed to be the official opposition after all.
February 26, 2007 at 1:38 PM
Anonymous
said...
Definition of 'opinion leader'?
Choose 100 of your 'best friends' and ask them if you are wonderful and you should get a 100% result. Who are the eight dissenters? Even now The Sith will be hunting them down...
What does this ginger bint actually do for a living?
February 26, 2007 at 1:45 PM
Anonymous
said...
Next his spin team will be advising that as Gordon Brown has a similar nose to Adolf Hitler, that he must share similar leadership qualities. If they do mention this of course, we can point to Hitler's ultimate defeat!
Latest sighting of Astroturf Sturmtruppen Armoured Personnel Carrier in Westminster.
February 26, 2007 at 1:57 PM
Anonymous
said...
No you are wrong Guido
If you polled Brown himself 100 times he wouldnt get 92% approval rating, he doesnt have 100 friends
Theresa may just asked for debate on Browns special advisers who cost taxpayer 1.6m for the ones registered apparently , she then claims he has 11 and what is he hiding?? Straw evaded an answer
February 26, 2007 at 1:58 PM
Anonymous
said...
Opinion Leader Research is part of the research division of Chime Communications plc.
It's not a polling organisation. It's a PR agency - part of Tim Bell's empire. It's on the 5th floor of Holborn Gate, 26 Southampton Buildings: Bell Pottinger occupy the 6th floor.
Its describes itself as the UK's No. 1 opinion leading research company
They say: We believe that the best research is active, engaging and part of the communications process, not a passive exercise in measurement.
And, We recognise that well-designed, focused research studies can add significant value and help to position clients as "thought leaders" in their field of expertise.
They peformed what it means to be British research in 2005. Opinion Leader's client for this exercise was identified only as Chime Communications itself.
February 26, 2007 at 2:22 PM
Anonymous
said...
Hmm...very interesting. Wonder what else they have been up to?
February 26, 2007 at 2:36 PM
Anonymous
said...
Any comment yet from the Tories on this so called "poll"?
February 26, 2007 at 2:40 PM
Anonymous
said...
Afetr humiliation by Bremner the bbc ask
'Is it legal to impersonate a minister?' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6396713.stm
'Red Dawn' Primarolo seems to have gotten away with it for years...
(ps Nick Robinson says: I couldn't spot a single newsworthy story in the 'conversation' , well he has form)
February 26, 2007 at 3:02 PM
Anonymous
said...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2007/02/gossiping_polit.html "Gossiping politicians" Nick Robinson
What a fearless filter he is.
February 26, 2007 at 3:06 PM
Anonymous
said...
I'm worried that there may not be enough lamp posts in Whitehall to deal with these spivs, liars and con merchants in a 'Mussolini' style when the great day comes.
February 26, 2007 at 3:06 PM
Anonymous
said...
Re. research conducted for Govt departments, if these were PR-style faux polls, it seems unlikely they will meet any accepted MRS (Market Research Society) standard.
There may be a procurement issue here as, in my experience, the standards applied to Govt purchasing of market research tend to be pretty scrupulous - comfy chats with 'thought leaders' would not seem to qualify.
February 26, 2007 at 3:09 PM
Anonymous
said...
Anon 3.06 Don't worry. We can use the congestion camera poles when we run out of lamp posts.
How about 'Kirkcaldy resident and registered Labour voter with telephone number on file with Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath's MP'.
By the way, following on the UKIP saga of people having to be registered to vote in order to make a political donation, dare I question whether any of Gordon Brown's cashbackers are registered with their respective local authorities? I mean, it would just be so awful if we were to discover after all that that nice Mr Wilfred Stevenson or even Mr Ronald Cohen were not on this year's electoral roll? Perhaps someone should check?
February 26, 2007 at 3:21 PM
Anonymous
said...
Doesn't look as though the Sun's Headline has been enough - the Beeb are trailing a govt request to OFCOM to investigate BSykB's purchase of 17.9% of ITV.....ah well, there goes News International.....
There's one massive logic problem with attempt to hold Broon up (I now imagine him covered in scaffold).
The electorate is 44 million people. We are being offered 100 opinion formers.
February 26, 2007 at 3:29 PM
Anonymous
said...
Is it possible that Tony B really is, as he believes, bigger than the Labour Party?
Without the vote he brings in (when it's needed) there doesn't seem to be much support.
GB is never going to be the housewife's choice. So, my friends, it looks like they are truly 'dead in the water' unless TB does a volte-face.
No (astro-turfing) attack dogs yet either - lending credence to the theory that this is all being centrally coordinated, what a surprise.
February 26, 2007 at 3:31 PM
Anonymous
said...
Labour policy meeting following May local elections - 'The problem is not that I am going, the problem is that the electorate cannot see a successor that they will support. They won't vote Labour unless I lead you into the next election. Only I can do it for you. Trust me.'
February 26, 2007 at 3:46 PM
Anonymous
said...
Why are the attack dogs not coming out to play today?
Don't like it when it is up you?
Can't believe that you are so thick not to realise that the game is up- you have been sussed out
trying to hatch some devious little plan, are we?
Come one, be a good boy, come out to play and defend your squalid little masters,
The astro-turfing on Guido's "Gordon's shadowy henchmen" post was so bad that the astro-turfing team is currently being reorientated.
February 26, 2007 at 4:04 PM
Anonymous
said...
Some years ago, In a previous existence, I was once contacted by a polling organisation such as Opinion Leader Research and responded to their questions honestly,in a somewhat right wing fashion.
There were no further unsolicited calls / follow ups – complete coincidence I’m sure!
Expanding a little on Sero’s background info – from the accounts of Chime the divison she heads up (Research - others are PR and Advertising) is the smallest one in the group with Revenues of £2.5m out of a total of £38.5m in 1st half of 2006 ie its not particularily large in either absolute or relative terms.
February 26, 2007 at 4:07 PM
Anonymous
said...
Ze ave scheduled ze astro-turfzing zur Mittwoch. Auf Wiedersehen.
THis was so hilarious a story I felt compelled to register as a Sun Commenter and post the following (paraphrased from Guido)
"Is it just possible that the integrity of this magnificent "Brown poll victory" story might be somewhat compromised by the fact that the research firm you used is run by Deborah Mattinson, a Labour Party consultant, also now Gordon Brown's unofficial pollster and who also is on the advisory committee of the Smith Institute!"
5...4...3...2...1 "Hello, Gordon Brown's office hier, kan you esk Rebekah to tek Toskan's comment off ze Viktory News piss now pliss. Ve are vatching ent vaitink."
February 26, 2007 at 4:10 PM
Anonymous
said...
The astro-turf A team were heavily into the Sun Comment boards bashing Cameron over hoodies - material could have been scripted by Reid, in fact probably was, they just recycled some reject stuff. A definite give-away, though, was the use of two syllable words - guys, if you are listening, you need to pitch the tone of voice at the audience.
February 26, 2007 at 4:20 PM
Anonymous
said...
Sorry guys the trolls only come to Guido's blog on a Saturday night, because they know it's only safe time to play,they will insist on leaving the light on.
Ahhh, so that's Deborah Mattinson. I thought you'd posted a picture of Witchie Poo! from H.R. Puff 'n' Stuff.
February 26, 2007 at 4:38 PM
Anonymous
said...
As a professional astroturfer I feel obliged to respond to some of the derogatory comments that are being made on this website about what we do. This is actually a very highly skilled occupation with its own professional association and code of conduct. In fact we are in negotiation with the Government with regard to our professional role and we expect shortly to be granted Chartered status. The public can then be assured that when they see the see the initials ARS (Astroturf Registration Society) after a blogger ID, then that blogger will conform to the professional standard expected of a skilled practioner of the dark arts.
February 26, 2007 at 4:46 PM
Anonymous
said...
Where are the astro-turfers? Has Chancellor Gordon called them back to the Death Star? Be mindful fellow Jedi
Tuscan Tony said... THis was so hilarious a story I felt compelled to register as a Sun Commenter
My God, I hope you wash those filthy hands having used them to register with the evil empire.
Reading the NOTW online is a guilty pleasure of mine, will not register as I do not want to be bombarded with spam for pornography and cock enlargement apparatus (Or do I?)
February 26, 2007 at 4:55 PM
Anonymous
said...
Have the astro-turfers been recalled to base because of some seismic paradigm shift shock within Labour? Something's going on, it's too quiet. PS my word verification was anaki (spooky)
February 26, 2007 at 4:57 PM
Anonymous
said...
Is it quiet on all fronts? Do we have intel on this?
February 26, 2007 at 5:00 PM
Anonymous
said...
4:57 PM
No shift change I would think,I usually check on the Hitch's blog they seem to hit him first ,then come over to Guido's
PS Hitch is such a NICE person
February 26, 2007 at 5:03 PM
Anonymous
said...
I sense a great disturbance in the force
February 26, 2007 at 5:12 PM
Anonymous
said...
Perhaps the astroturfers have given up blogging for Lent.
Keep on singeing Gordon's arse-hairs with the blow-torch of truth, Guido. You know he secretly loves it.
February 26, 2007 at 5:22 PM
Anonymous
said...
Hi Ed, nice to have you with us with your lovely wife Yvette.
We asked 92 Brownite stooges and 8 normal people to name a leading British politician who has integrity.
You said, "Gordon Brown".
If it's up there, I'll give you the money meself. Don't worry, I won't expect a peerage in return.
Our survey said... well fuck me, it's the top answer - 92.
Now then Yvette, we asked 100 Blairites to name something red.
You said, "my cardigan".
Our survey said (EH-UH!!!) sorry love, the answer we were looking for is Michael Meacher.
February 26, 2007 at 5:25 PM
Anonymous
said...
Guido, just a thought, but is it possible that sometimes you get leaked a story so as to ensure that it does not get to fly with the mainstream media (on the 'not invented here' principal)?
This might explain why some of the items that appear on this site do not run as big on TV or in the press as one would expect.
Guido, do you think it might be possible that you are being spun to?
Not looking to cause offence, but the stories just don't seem to flow through as one would expect.
Might be worth looking into this. Some of these media manipulators have angles on angles that you would not credit.
That has occurred to Guido. Not so much as get leaked it to kill it, but that if it runs here, the papers won't run with it on the not new news basis.
Anti-Gordon stories don't run in The Times, Sun and unbelievably the Daily Hate Mail because they are pro-Gordon. The rest of the papers seem OK. The Guardian is having a tug-of-love/war on its editorial team re Gordon.
February 26, 2007 at 5:34 PM
Anonymous
said...
This hilarious situation should be called 'The Astroturfer's Dilemma'.
What do you do when you've been suddenly ordered by your superiors to avoid astroturfing a story of the kind that you've been attacking for months and the odd silence is noted by everyone and accurately attributed to central control.
Do you (a) maintain silence and thereby give added credibility to the analysis or (b) disobey orders and 'disprove' the thesis.
anon 5.25pm wow, I think you're onto something - they've cleverly leaked the story to Guido via the doublesecretprobation medium of the front page of The Sun, thereby ensuring that only Guido would read the piece and then proceed to make a fool of himself by running with it when no-one else...oh, or.. err....bleb bleb bleb ssssssssssss...pop.
February 26, 2007 at 5:42 PM
Anonymous
said...
So does this mean that Gordon is leaking stories about Gordon so as to neutralise any residual anti-Gordon sentiment? Have I got that correct?
February 26, 2007 at 5:47 PM
Anonymous
said...
WHERE HAVE ALL THE TURFERS GONE apologies to Pete Seeger
Where have all the turfers gone? Long time passing Where have all the turfers gone? Long time ago Where have all the turfers gone? Sith have ditched them every one When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
February 26, 2007 at 5:48 PM
Anonymous
said...
The Astroturfers are all gathered at No. 11 attempting to separate The Cyclops and poor Konrad after an unfortunate 'Dog Knotting' incident
February 26, 2007 at 5:49 PM
Anonymous
said...
OT but Guido, for all future pics of Nick Robinson please use this:
From: Jonathan Miller Sent: Mon 26/02/2007 15:28 To: Deborah Mattinson
Dear Ms Mattinson
Please could you tell me the value of your contracts with HM Treasury over the past couple of years?
Sincerely
Jonathan Miller
Her pathetic reply:
I am sorry but we treat all our clients' work as confidential and never discuss it.
Yours
Deborah Mattinson
February 26, 2007 at 5:56 PM
Anonymous
said...
Deborah Mattinson is occassionally wheeled out on Newsnight to question a commissioned 'focus group.'You can guess how convenient the results are for New Labour.Surprise,surprise.
Looks like a Freedom of Information request job...
February 26, 2007 at 6:37 PM
Anonymous
said...
To be fair to Deborah Mattison she is only doing what she's paid to. She's a PR agent.
Her 'polls' that always show Gordy as very popular and her articles that rubbish all the evidence to the contrary are all part of the service. She's Max Clifford without the cunning.
The amazing thing is that any media outlet would take her remotely seriously. One suspects they won't in the future.
Well done to Guido for skewering her.
February 26, 2007 at 6:41 PM
Anonymous
said...
We all know that both polls are suspect-next!
February 26, 2007 at 6:43 PM
Anonymous
said...
The irony is that if these people listened to public opinion instead of incessantly trying to manipulate it they would probaby do much better.
Brown turned up for a few touchy feely programmes a month or two back, then immediately went back into hibernation when he didn't get the response he obviously thought he should have had.
These allegedly intelligent people are in the final analysis fucking morons.
I had hoped to declare "Anonymongs at 11:53, 11:54, 11:56, 11:59 etc you are Sith Astro-Turfers and I claim my £5"
None about though. I'll have to carry on working for my money I suppose.
February 26, 2007 at 7:11 PM
Anonymous
said...
Is anyone else missing the astroturfers, or is it just me? Has somebody said something to offend them?
February 26, 2007 at 7:22 PM
Anonymous
said...
This idea of fixing polls in order to manipulate the public to act in a certain way is an idea that New Layabout nicked from that twisted PM in House of Cards.
Depends how many Sun readers take notice or give a shit what "opinion formers" are supposed to be saying about Brown? Not many I suspect, and if the Beeb aren't running with this, Brown's so lovely, story then it must really be stinking the place up.
February 26, 2007 at 7:41 PM
Anonymous
said...
I know it's an old story regarding Newsnight but it shows how things work in this country.In the 80's whenever the Newsnight team wanted to give the Tories a mauling over financial policy,and that was practically every week,they would go to Gavyn Davies of Goldman Sachs who would dutifully trash anything the Tories attempted.Of course he eventually got his reward,the Governorship of the BBC.He eventually screwed up over the David Kelly affair,and resigned together with Greg Dyke.
February 26, 2007 at 7:45 PM
Anonymous
said...
Correct, to the average Sun reader the word 'opinion' looks more like 'onion' and would be read as such. This fact is well known at the Sun.
Anonymous said... "This idea of fixing polls in order to manipulate the public to act in a certain way is an idea that New Layabout nicked from that twisted PM in House of Cards." 7:41 PM
Isn't that why some other European countries, ban the publication of polls, in the last month leading up to a general election, in case, they try to manipulate floating voters with bogus polls?
By God that looks just like Peter Glaze, of Crackerjack fame. I wonder if Nick Robinsonandonandon just happens to be his secret lovechild, if so I think we should be told.
Talking of News Int's relationship with Brown, has anyone else noticed that Sky News has changed it's colour scheme, The news ticker at the bottom of the screen used to have a Blue background, now it is black. Are they removing Tory colours?
February 26, 2007 at 10:03 PM
Anonymous
said...
By God that looks just like Peter Glaze, of Crackerjack fame. I wonder if Nick Robinsonandonandon just happens to be his secret lovechild, if so I think we should be told.
Peter Glaze never had long ginger hair...what are you on about?
February 26, 2007 at 11:35 PM
Anonymous
said...
Peter Glaze did not have any hair, did he?
This is more of a dangerous poll then first meets the eye.
So people that are in charge of our media ARE politically bias and feeding us a line. Not that this should be anything surprising for Tories. However the FACTS now speak for themselves.
If Gordon Brown is running for election based on polls like these. No wonder he still thinks he has a chance of winning.
The simple reality, that the people of this nation now dont trust their media or their government,is a reality check to far for socialists.
February 27, 2007 at 1:24 AM
Anonymous
said...
Anon 3:06
Well, there's always the "Spartacus's Revenge Option". If you remember, at the end of the slaves' revolt the imperial powers lined the Appian Way with the crucified bodies of the defeated slaves.
Come the glorious day, we, the modern slaves, could return the compliment by lining the M25 with their dangling corpses.
Peter Glaze never had long ginger hair...what are you on about?
Since when did Robinson have long ginger hair, did you even LOOK at the picture? As for Glaze, a quick look on Google would show you that he had plenty of hair.
February 27, 2007 at 2:03 PM
Anonymous
said...
What and mess up the view on my journey home?
No I think Guido has personal experience of a much more deserving method.
Failing that deliver them all to the Taliban. A good slow inverted skinning alive would be a laugh.
Then we might all see what type of reptiles they are underneath.
101 comments:
Of course Brown should have the job....who else have they got ? It is Buggins Turn after all until Euan comes to claim his inheritance.......Brown is only the stop-gap anyway
Presumably the 100 people questioned were "opinion formers" within the Smith Insitute, Brownite MPs and Guardian journalists?
At least that means there are at least 100 people in the UK who will vote for BL in 2010. For the rest of us there's Dave.
Cue Sith spamming:
Poll is scientific based on same method HM Treasury calculates PSBR.
What is wrong with having Gordon's favourite pollster on the board of an independent charity that uses No.11 every week?
It is a coincidence if she does a poll that finds out Gordon is 110% popular and it has nothing whatsoever to do with her lucrative HM Treasury contract. That wouldn't cross subsidise it at all.
It is an old story, these are not the scams you are looking for, move along.
It's a tricky business !!
I think it says it all when you look on the Opinion Leader website and it says The full breakdown of the poll is available here: and no link!
At least the Gruniad recognises it for what it is as "Broons allies talk up support...."
100 figures in business (hmm clearly they have been talking to Crapita, EDS and Accenture), politics (Labour MPs hoping for a job), the media (the Gruniad and the BBC) and charidee (hehe).
Deborah do you think there might be just a little sample bias in your clearly scientifically and statistially weighted, chosen 100? Can we have the names, so we can have a good laugh?
Face it Brown is about as popular with the middle-england electorate as someone with syphilis at an swingers party.
PS how much do pollsters get paid? I reckon I could do a decent job phoning up 100 people and asking them for their opinion. Easy money.
So let me get this straight. A woman who is on the board of Gordon Brown's pet think tank, has worked for the Labour Party and gets paid money by the Treasury is pumping out dodgy polls that show that Brown is more popular than Cameron.
So she's got no axe to grind then...
Defending the Indefensible
Just wonder a a coward would have coped in the heat of war in afghanistan or Iraq- when he has bloody starved the boys of cash and equipment?
and has Cyclops ever visited any wounded soldiers, or spoken to relatives?
think I know the answer to that one as well, don't need a bloody fake poll to work that one out
Me thinks there is something rotten in the state of Sith they doth protest too much!
Where are the astro-turfers, I could do with some comedy?
Great piece Guido - outstanding work.
Astro-turfers currently being briefed, expect imminent arrival.
Opinion Leader Research...are they reading Tony's tea leaves?
Dear Gordon,
I am an opinion leader, please may I take part in your next poll, Deborah seems to have missed me this time.
Regards
Ronnie
PS Where should I send this month's cheque as the Smith Institute been rumbled?
PPS Great speech at Toyota at Derby this morning.
With the last data set available on the OLR website ( collected last October) showing GB's "integrity rating at about the same as DC - 66% - it appears that the only area where the response was markedly higher was Scotland - 82%. So if you sample 100 Scottish opinion formers who all vote labour you presumably can boost that up to 82% and then look at all the demonstrations of integrity over the last 4 months from GB to explain how the rest have been converted...
What if Daffy Millyblink wins?
Will Debby be able to live off the slim pickings in Sith. Maybe she should be sensible and hedge her bets and start grovelling to Daffy and Dave.
Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders follow Gordon to his grave.
Poor Gordon, reality bites:
"He was a man
Of unbounded stomach, ever ranking
Himself with princes;
His own opinion was his law. I'th'presence [i.e. of the King]
He would say untruths and be ever double
Both in his words and meaning. He was never,
But where he meant to ruin, pitiful.
His promises were, as he then was, mighty,
But his performance, as he is now, nothing."
Astro-turfers now straining at the leash, waiting for the off. The Dark Lord ponders his options before releasing the hounds of doom!!
astro-turfing ; the graceless action of a clunking fist.
Brown by name, yellow by nature
Guido that is whay you are the top of this tree. Fucking brilliant and crucial. This is not an old story to me and nor will it be to the many people reading their paper over their alpen and toast.
I hope the Press pick this angle up.
This sort of thing really hurts
The problem with a clunking fist is that it can't do subtle spin.
Time for Osborne to do a DD and announce that an incomming Govt will be having an official review of recent spin contracts, with the intention of clawing back monies from parties who were awarded them under dubious cicumstances. A simple one clause commitment in the manifesto would allow that.
Good work Guido !! PS was sir michael an opinion leader ? Let the people know !
PRT Online Command said...
Meanwhile back at the Political Research Taskforce HQ...
PRT lackey : Lord Brown, it seems that the rebels have discovered that one lone X-wing blogger can evade our defensive spin shield.
DB : Prepare my escape craft fools.
And just what the hell is an "opinion leader"? Who decides, do you qualify, sit an exam, do you get a certificate? Or do you simply agree to brown nose Brown? So many questions and it's only Monday!
Let me get this straight. They hand pick a group of 100 people, arbitrarily declare them 'opinion leaders', and then deign to tell us that standard opinion polling is in error?
What's next? A series of dismal opinion polls for Brown, consistently 'rebutted' by more 'opinion leader' surveys, ever more swivel-eyed hagiographies, Diebold voting machines and Bob's your uncle, or rather, Gordon is your 'elected' (nudge nudge, wink wink) PM....
The Guardian is damaged by using such shoddy crap fake polls as well - funny about The Sun though, Methinks the long hand of Rupert
Astro-turfers on the horizon, hold the line boys, hold the line. When you see the whites of their eyes, let them have it!
...even the Astro-turfers are too embarassed to wade in...
Shows what utter lazy mugs the media know us to be.The result is Blair and his like.Terrible.
What an insecure twat Gordimmo is.
If his trolls need to do this to assuage his ego!
Far better to just change his nappy and put him back on the rocking horse, with his favourite dummy.
Astro-turf sturmtruppen currently pinned down in skirmishing actions on the BBC front!
Well done Guido for revealing this so-called "pollsters" Brownite links.
Now, would it be too much to expect Cameron and co to start making some political capital out of shyster Brown's latest attempt to con the public?
They are supposed to be the official opposition after all.
Definition of 'opinion leader'?
Choose 100 of your 'best friends' and ask them if you are wonderful and you should get a 100% result. Who are the eight dissenters? Even now The Sith will be hunting them down...
What does this ginger bint actually do for a living?
Next his spin team will be advising that as Gordon Brown has a similar nose to Adolf Hitler, that he must share similar leadership qualities. If they do mention this of course, we can point to Hitler's ultimate defeat!
I suppose Balls can be Geobals?
Choosing milliband isnt so much skipping a generation but rather skipping a species.
http://tinyurl.com/2y474m
Latest sighting of Astroturf Sturmtruppen Armoured Personnel Carrier in Westminster.
No you are wrong Guido
If you polled Brown himself 100 times he wouldnt get 92% approval rating, he doesnt have 100 friends
Theresa may just asked for debate on Browns special advisers who cost taxpayer 1.6m for the ones registered apparently , she then claims he has 11 and what is he hiding?? Straw evaded an answer
Opinion Leader Research is part of the research division of Chime Communications plc.
It's not a polling organisation. It's a PR agency - part of Tim Bell's empire. It's on the 5th floor of Holborn Gate, 26 Southampton Buildings: Bell Pottinger occupy the 6th floor.
Its describes itself as the UK's No. 1 opinion leading research company
They say: We believe that the best research is active, engaging and part of the communications process, not a passive exercise in measurement.
And, We recognise that well-designed, focused research studies can add significant value and help to position clients as "thought leaders" in their field of expertise.
They peformed what it means to be British research in 2005. Opinion Leader's client for this exercise was identified only as Chime Communications itself.
Hmm...very interesting. Wonder what else they have been up to?
Any comment yet from the Tories on this so called "poll"?
Afetr humiliation by Bremner the bbc ask
'Is it legal to impersonate a minister?'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6396713.stm
'Red Dawn' Primarolo seems to have gotten away with it for years...
(ps Nick Robinson says: I couldn't spot a single newsworthy story in the 'conversation' , well he has form)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2007/02/gossiping_polit.html
"Gossiping politicians" Nick Robinson
What a fearless filter he is.
I'm worried that there may not be enough lamp posts in Whitehall to deal with these spivs, liars and con merchants in a 'Mussolini' style when the great day comes.
Re. research conducted for Govt departments, if these were PR-style faux polls, it seems unlikely they will meet any accepted MRS (Market Research Society) standard.
There may be a procurement issue here as, in my experience, the standards applied to Govt purchasing of market research tend to be pretty scrupulous - comfy chats with 'thought leaders' would not seem to qualify.
Anon 3.06
Don't worry. We can use the congestion camera poles when we run out of lamp posts.
Definition of 'opinion leader'?
How about 'Kirkcaldy resident and registered Labour voter with telephone number on file with Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath's MP'.
By the way, following on the UKIP saga of people having to be registered to vote in order to make a political donation, dare I question whether any of Gordon Brown's cashbackers are registered with their respective local authorities? I mean, it would just be so awful if we were to discover after all that that nice Mr Wilfred Stevenson or even Mr Ronald Cohen were not on this year's electoral roll? Perhaps someone should check?
Doesn't look as though the Sun's Headline has been enough - the Beeb are trailing a govt request to OFCOM to investigate BSykB's purchase of 17.9% of ITV.....ah well, there goes News International.....
There's one massive logic problem with attempt to hold Broon up (I now imagine him covered in scaffold).
The electorate is 44 million people. We are being offered 100 opinion formers.
Is it possible that Tony B really is, as he believes, bigger than the Labour Party?
Without the vote he brings in (when it's needed) there doesn't seem to be much support.
GB is never going to be the housewife's choice. So, my friends, it looks like they are truly 'dead in the water' unless TB does a volte-face.
No (astro-turfing) attack dogs yet either - lending credence to the theory that this is all being centrally coordinated, what a surprise.
Labour policy meeting following May local elections - 'The problem is not that I am going, the problem is that the electorate cannot see a successor that they will support. They won't vote Labour unless I lead you into the next election. Only I can do it for you. Trust me.'
Why are the attack dogs not coming out to play today?
Don't like it when it is up you?
Can't believe that you are so thick not to realise that the game is up- you have been sussed out
trying to hatch some devious little plan, are we?
Come one, be a good boy, come out to play and defend your squalid little masters,
its time we had another laugh
The astro-turfing on Guido's "Gordon's shadowy henchmen" post was so bad that the astro-turfing team is currently being reorientated.
Some years ago, In a previous existence, I was once contacted by a polling organisation such as Opinion Leader Research and responded to their questions honestly,in a somewhat right wing fashion.
There were no further unsolicited calls / follow ups – complete coincidence I’m sure!
Expanding a little on Sero’s background info – from the accounts of Chime the divison she heads up (Research - others are PR and Advertising) is the smallest one in the group with Revenues of £2.5m out of a total of £38.5m in 1st half of 2006 ie its not particularily large in either absolute or relative terms.
Ze ave scheduled ze astro-turfzing zur Mittwoch. Auf Wiedersehen.
THis was so hilarious a story I felt compelled to register as a Sun Commenter and post the following (paraphrased from Guido)
"Is it just possible that the integrity of this magnificent "Brown poll victory" story might be somewhat compromised by the fact that the research firm you used is run by Deborah Mattinson, a Labour Party consultant, also now Gordon Brown's unofficial pollster and who also is on the advisory committee of the Smith Institute!"
5...4...3...2...1 "Hello, Gordon Brown's office hier, kan you esk Rebekah to tek Toskan's comment off ze Viktory News piss now pliss. Ve are vatching ent vaitink."
The astro-turf A team were heavily into the Sun Comment boards bashing Cameron over hoodies - material could have been scripted by Reid, in fact probably was, they just recycled some reject stuff. A definite give-away, though, was the use of two syllable words - guys, if you are listening, you need to pitch the tone of voice at the audience.
Sorry guys the trolls only come to Guido's blog on a Saturday night, because they know it's only safe time to play,they will insist on leaving the light on.
chris carter - I'm their leader & follow them was certainly used by Jim Hacker in Yes Minister.
I also think you'll find that astroturfers are more pitch than field
Ahhh, so that's Deborah Mattinson. I thought you'd posted a picture of Witchie Poo! from H.R. Puff 'n' Stuff.
As a professional astroturfer I feel obliged to respond to some of the derogatory comments that are being made on this website about what we do. This is actually a very highly skilled occupation with its own professional association and code of conduct. In fact we are in negotiation with the Government with regard to our professional role and we expect shortly to be granted Chartered status. The public can then be assured that when they see the see the initials ARS (Astroturf Registration Society) after a blogger ID, then that blogger will conform to the professional standard expected of a skilled practioner of the dark arts.
Where are the astro-turfers? Has Chancellor Gordon called them back to the Death Star? Be mindful fellow Jedi
Gordon Brown in U-turn on own Teeth
http://ollysonions.blogspot.com/2007/02/gordon-brown-in-u-turn-on-own-teeth.html
Tuscan Tony said...
THis was so hilarious a story I felt compelled to register as a Sun Commenter
My God, I hope you wash those filthy hands having used them to register with the evil empire.
Reading the NOTW online is a guilty pleasure of mine, will not register as I do not want to be bombarded with spam for pornography and cock enlargement apparatus (Or do I?)
Have the astro-turfers been recalled to base because of some seismic paradigm shift shock within Labour? Something's going on, it's too quiet.
PS my word verification was anaki (spooky)
Is it quiet on all fronts? Do we have intel on this?
4:57 PM
No shift change I would think,I usually check on the Hitch's blog they seem to hit him first ,then come over to Guido's
PS Hitch is such a NICE person
I sense a great disturbance in the force
Perhaps the astroturfers have given up blogging for Lent.
John Denham to take on Brown?
Keep on singeing Gordon's arse-hairs with the blow-torch of truth, Guido. You know he secretly loves it.
Hi Ed, nice to have you with us with your lovely wife Yvette.
We asked 92 Brownite stooges and 8 normal people to name a leading British politician who has integrity.
You said, "Gordon Brown".
If it's up there, I'll give you the money meself. Don't worry, I won't expect a peerage in return.
Our survey said... well fuck me, it's the top answer - 92.
Now then Yvette, we asked 100 Blairites to name something red.
You said, "my cardigan".
Our survey said (EH-UH!!!) sorry love, the answer we were looking for is Michael Meacher.
Guido, just a thought, but is it possible that sometimes you get leaked a story so as to ensure that it does not get to fly with the mainstream media (on the 'not invented here' principal)?
This might explain why some of the items that appear on this site do not run as big on TV or in the press as one would expect.
Guido, do you think it might be possible that you are being spun to?
Not looking to cause offence, but the stories just don't seem to flow through as one would expect.
Might be worth looking into this. Some of these media manipulators have angles on angles that you would not credit.
Anonymong,
That has occurred to Guido. Not so much as get leaked it to kill it, but that if it runs here, the papers won't run with it on the not new news basis.
Anti-Gordon stories don't run in The Times, Sun and unbelievably the Daily Hate Mail because they are pro-Gordon. The rest of the papers seem OK. The Guardian is having a tug-of-love/war on its editorial team re Gordon.
This hilarious situation should be called 'The Astroturfer's Dilemma'.
What do you do when you've been suddenly ordered by your superiors to avoid astroturfing a story of the kind that you've been attacking for months and the odd silence is noted by everyone and accurately attributed to central control.
Do you (a) maintain silence and thereby give added credibility to the analysis or (b) disobey orders and 'disprove' the thesis.
anon 5.25pm wow, I think you're onto something - they've cleverly leaked the story to Guido via the doublesecretprobation medium of the front page of The Sun, thereby ensuring that only Guido would read the piece and then proceed to make a fool of himself by running with it when no-one else...oh, or.. err....bleb bleb bleb ssssssssssss...pop.
So does this mean that Gordon is leaking stories about Gordon so as to neutralise any residual anti-Gordon sentiment? Have I got that correct?
WHERE HAVE ALL THE TURFERS GONE
apologies to Pete Seeger
Where have all the turfers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the turfers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the turfers gone?
Sith have ditched them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
The Astroturfers are all gathered at No. 11 attempting to separate The Cyclops and poor Konrad after an unfortunate 'Dog Knotting' incident
OT but Guido, for all future pics of Nick Robinson please use this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/pancakes.jpg
From: Jonathan Miller
Sent: Mon 26/02/2007 15:28
To: Deborah Mattinson
Dear Ms Mattinson
Please could you tell me the value of your contracts with HM Treasury over the past couple of years?
Sincerely
Jonathan Miller
Her pathetic reply:
I am sorry but we treat all our clients' work as confidential and never discuss it.
Yours
Deborah Mattinson
Deborah Mattinson is occassionally wheeled out on Newsnight to question a commissioned 'focus group.'You can guess how convenient the results are for New Labour.Surprise,surprise.
Looks like a Freedom of Information request job...
To be fair to Deborah Mattison she is only doing what she's paid to. She's a PR agent.
Her 'polls' that always show Gordy as very popular and her articles that rubbish all the evidence to the contrary are all part of the service. She's Max Clifford without the cunning.
The amazing thing is that any media outlet would take her remotely seriously. One suspects they won't in the future.
Well done to Guido for skewering her.
We all know that both polls are suspect-next!
The irony is that if these people listened to public opinion instead of incessantly trying to manipulate it they would probaby do much better.
Brown turned up for a few touchy feely programmes a month or two back, then immediately went back into hibernation when he didn't get the response he obviously thought he should have had.
These allegedly intelligent people are in the final analysis fucking morons.
Guido - will you be laying out the green carpet when the NuLabour astro-turfers come cartwheeling back at you?
I had hoped to declare "Anonymongs at 11:53, 11:54, 11:56, 11:59 etc you are Sith Astro-Turfers and I claim my £5"
None about though. I'll have to carry on working for my money I suppose.
Is anyone else missing the astroturfers, or is it just me? Has somebody said something to offend them?
This idea of fixing polls in order to manipulate the public to act in a certain way is an idea that New Layabout nicked from that twisted PM in House of Cards.
Depends how many Sun readers take notice or give a shit what "opinion formers" are supposed to be saying about Brown?
Not many I suspect, and if the Beeb aren't running with this, Brown's so lovely, story then it must really be stinking the place up.
I know it's an old story regarding Newsnight but it shows how things work in this country.In the 80's whenever the Newsnight team wanted to give the Tories a mauling over financial policy,and that was practically every week,they would go to Gavyn Davies of Goldman Sachs who would dutifully trash anything the Tories attempted.Of course he eventually got his reward,the Governorship of the BBC.He eventually screwed up over the David Kelly affair,and resigned together with Greg Dyke.
Correct, to the average Sun reader the word 'opinion' looks more like 'onion' and would be read as such. This fact is well known at the Sun.
Anonymous said...
"This idea of fixing polls in order to manipulate the public to act in a certain way is an idea that New Layabout nicked from that twisted PM in House of Cards."
7:41 PM
Isn't that why some other European countries, ban the publication of polls, in the last month leading up to a general election, in case, they try to manipulate floating voters with bogus polls?
5:55 Anon
By God that looks just like Peter Glaze, of Crackerjack fame. I wonder if Nick Robinsonandonandon just happens to be his secret lovechild, if so I think we should be told.
Talking of News Int's relationship with Brown, has anyone else noticed that Sky News has changed it's colour scheme, The news ticker at the bottom of the screen used to have a Blue background, now it is black.
Are they removing Tory colours?
By God that looks just like Peter Glaze, of Crackerjack fame. I wonder if Nick Robinsonandonandon just happens to be his secret lovechild, if so I think we should be told.
Peter Glaze never had long ginger hair...what are you on about?
Peter Glaze did not have any hair, did he?
This is more of a dangerous poll then first meets the eye.
So people that are in charge of our media ARE politically bias and feeding us a line. Not that this should be anything surprising for Tories. However the FACTS now speak for themselves.
If Gordon Brown is running for election based on polls like these. No wonder he still thinks he has a chance of winning.
The simple reality, that the people of this nation now dont trust their media or their government,is a reality check to far for socialists.
Anon 3:06
Well, there's always the "Spartacus's Revenge Option". If you remember, at the end of the slaves' revolt the imperial powers lined the Appian Way with the crucified bodies of the defeated slaves.
Come the glorious day, we, the modern slaves, could return the compliment by lining the M25 with their dangling corpses.
Peter Glaze never had long ginger hair...what are you on about?
Since when did Robinson have long ginger hair, did you even LOOK at the picture? As for Glaze, a quick look on Google would show you that he had plenty of hair.
What and mess up the view on my
journey home?
No I think Guido has personal experience of a much more deserving method.
Failing that deliver them all to the Taliban. A good slow inverted skinning alive would be a laugh.
Then we might all see what type of reptiles they are underneath.