… and what the Sundays are saying
We’re now halfway through the year, so this might be a good time to take stock of the betting “profit and loss” for the year. Are you up, down, or flat? And what has been your rate of return for 2011 to date, if you calculate it?
I’m probably in the second tier of PB punters– it tends to be a few hundred here and there, rather than thousands. So, in terms of Cabinet hierarchy, possibly a Michael Gove rather than a William Hague. The spring PB drinks was fruitful for striking wagers though, and I made bets with both John O (on the Obama popular vote share) and Max (on Joe Biden) for 2012.
I’ve had two main successes this year – unfortunately the “Salmond surge” wasn’t one of them, but I did manage to cash in on the AV vote. I felt it was always going one way, even when the polls were fairly close, and I was very happy betting on No at 5/6 and all the way down below 1/2, making several hundred and an average return of round about 70%. The other big win was betting on Micheál Martin to be Fianna Fáil leader, shortly before Brian Cowen resigned.
So what have been your successes and failures this year? And what are you betting on now – have you entered the GOP market? (…or possibly even the Labour leader betting?)
In the Sunday papers
Several stories of interest in the press:
A leaked letter from the office of Eric Pickles has warned that the planned welfare reforms could make 40,000 more families homeless, while Boris Johnson has described the High Speed 2 project as “perverse” and “inadequate”
Senior Labour figures close to Tony Blair have told James Purnell that he should return to the Commons to save the party from defeat – and Andrew Rawnsley writes that Ed Miliband is having to bite the hands that elected him
George Osborne has been warned by investors about his plans for ring-fencing the banks – while the Lib Dems are warning that the plans are too weak
… and could DSK yet re-enter the 2012 French presidential race?
Double Carpet
Our Genial Host returns to PB tomorrow from his holiday, so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who’s helped out in keeping the site going this week – David, Henry, and Morus for their articles, Marf for the cartoons, and the ever-watchful Moderator for his constant vigilance. Many thanks, DC
Twitter: @electiongame