James Forsyth James Forsyth

The politics of the crisis

Westminster is convinced that Gordon Brown is the political beneficiary, at least in the short-term, of the current financial turmoil. Brown looks more energised and confident than he has in a long time, the rebellion within the Labour party has been quashed, and the Tories are in a bind. They have to be supportive of the government lest they be accused of playing politics with the situation but this leaves them looking like they have no ideas of their own as David Cameron found to his cost at PMQs.

But the Populus poll in today’s Times, obviously taken before today’s bail-out, suggests that there is less of a Brown bounce than you might expect. The poll finds the Tories on 45 percent, 15 points ahead of Labour. Admittedly, Labour is up three since August but the Tories are up two since then.

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