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Rowan Davies's avatar

I spent ages lobbying online for people to vote 'tactically' in named seats in (I think) the 2015 GE, supposedly to keep UKIP out I think (my brain seems to have deliberately deleted the details). Pretty much every seat I made confident predictions about went a totally different way and one of my friends brings it up at least once a year. I don't predict anything any more.

I love the line about 'freelance returning officers'. And tbh it's a pet peeve of mine when British political journalists/podcasters suddenly pretend to be profound experts on US elections every four years, when I can see they're just regurgitating whatever Nate Silver/Matt Taibbi/Dave Weigel said the day before. Very irritating.

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Matt Chorley's avatar

This was exactly the sort of thing I hoped for. A cautionary tale…

And I agree on Brits becoming poundshop pundits on US politics

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Yvonne Rose's avatar

I called the 1992 election wrong because I was on the doorstep and didn’t hear about the Sheffield rally for days. (Nor did most voters, it is a media myth that it lost the election.)

I normally bet on the thing I don’t want to happen because I can’t lose; this year I was too embarrassed to go in to the bookies to bet on Trump.)

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Eliot Wilson's avatar

I predicted, against expectation, that Netanyahu would beat Peres in 1996, and I was right.

(That I also predicted Dole would beat Clinton is irrelevant, shush.)

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Jose's avatar

Thanks John, but I want to listen to Matt in spite of the fact he’s with the BBC.

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Jose's avatar

Matt - I live in the US and your radio show is unavailable. Any podcasts to which I can subscribe?

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Johnny V's avatar

Download “BBC Sounds”

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Johnny V's avatar

…from the App Store.

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Jose's avatar

Matt - you should have stayed with The Times. I am slowly losing track of you. PM questions will never be the same.

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Matt Chorley's avatar

No need to lose track. I’m in 5Live Monday to Friday 2pm-4pm, and I write here occasionally when the mood takes me. And a stand-up tour is in its gestation…

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Sylvia Crookes's avatar

BBC impartial? Ha! Listen to the Friday bbc radio 6.30 comedy slot. Full of sarky left wing comedians. Very little balance. Similarly HIGNIFY.

I’ve given up on bbc radio and enjoy Timesradio all day long. Refreshing people who don’t pretend, but say what they think. Such a shame that Matt Chorley left, and is now shackled.

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Matt Chorley's avatar

Worth pointing out that those are comedy programmes not news programmes (although those shows also go out of their way to be funny equal opportunities in their comedy, but people tend to notice more when it’s “their” side being mocked”).

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Sylvia Crookes's avatar

Be honest, what proportion of the folk appearing on the News Quiz are conservative voters?

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Allie Barnicoat's avatar

I agree I love Times Radio and have it on all the time but I now switch over to 5 Live in the afternoon to catch Matt Chorley when he is on. Best of both worlds!

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Matt Chorley's avatar

Welcome aboard!

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