With the UK general election taking place on 8 June and the new government tasked with negotiating Britain\u2019s exit from the European Union, experts at Cardiff\u2019s Wales Governance Centre have been assessing the polls, policies and politics at the heart of the debate.<\/p>\n
On 17 May, Professor Roger Scully delivered the pre-election briefing \u2013 an overview of historic voting patterns in Wales, the respective parties\u2019 performances in 2015 and public opinion around a number of policy issues with reference to the upcoming ballot. You can view the full thirty minute video here<\/a>.<\/p>\n At that time, much of the local coverage had focused on the apparent erosion of Labour support in their traditional Welsh strongholds. However, a dramatic resurgence in the Welsh Political Barometer Poll<\/a> (22 May) has Professor Scully explaining in the New Statesman<\/a> why the dominant party of the last century \u201cis not about to go gently into that good night\u201d.<\/p>\n He also ruminates on the \u201calmost unbelievably\u201d low numbers attained by the Liberal Democrats (6%, lower than they polled in the disastrous 2015 election) and Plaid Cymru\u2019s struggle to turn the UK-wide platform of a television debate into consistent public support \u2013 they stand at 9%.<\/p>\n Finally, Professor Scully considers the Conservatives\u2019 likely attempt to pitch the election as a straight choice between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn for the premiership \u2013 \u201ceven in Wales, this contrast does not play well for Labour\u201d \u2013 whilst reminding us of the pundits\u2019 refrain: \u201cthis is<\/em> only one poll\u201d.<\/p>\n