Are people seeing through Darling’s new clothes?

The biggest worry surrounding Darling’s 10p tax con is that people will fall for it; that it will be the vote-winner Brown so clearly wants it to be.  There were immediate signs yesterday that this might be the case.  I highlighted a Political Betting graph which showed that – in the betting markets, at least – Labour’s hopes of winning in Crewe and Nantwich had been boosted by Darling’s move.  However (and thanks to CoffeeHouser ‘Ian C’ for pointing this out), a new graph over at Political Betting reveals that the markets have settled right back to where they were before Darling’s statement.  The con-trick may not have worked, after all.

I think Mike Smithson’s exactly right – the major reason for this is how the statement’s been reported in the media.  Most outlets have revealed if for what it is – a cynical, vote-grabbing ploy.  And Darling’s been on the end of kickings from Snow and Paxman.  It’s yet another indication of how unpopular the Brown government currently is, when only the Mirror is prepared to come out completely