Quotes by John Curtice

“People like Simon Hughes are still burdened by the mores of the generation they grew up in.”

“It is symptomatic of the fact the government does have a smaller majority so it is more vulnerable.”

“The thing that would make me say this is more than something you can dismiss as exceptional local circumstances is that it fits a new bigger pattern.”

“Both are in part about inequality between rich and poor. For many, the objection on smoking was that a partial ban would have increased inequalities in health. With the education bill, the objection is that it will increase inequality.”

“Its the moment that MPs start worrying about their seats that Blair has to worry.”

“Blair is using up a lot of political capital in getting this through. It will be tough and bruising going forward but it is not in itself fatal.”

“This (sleaze) is far more dangerous to Blair than whether or not he had to rely on Conservative votes for the education bill. Its too close to him.”

“It was classic Cameron: brilliant style, not much substance.”

“At the end of the day, Brown was quite explicit that he was not going to try and cut taxes, and the elbow room he has would be spent on education.”

“If they could get the institutions up and running properly before Blair resigns then Northern Ireland will go down as a positive -- he can tick it off as one of the big political issues he did get sorted out.”