The announcement of the cuts in prison sentences with more community sentences has provided a pacifier for Liberal Democrat MPs who were being attacked by Labour for allegedly being 'lapdogs' in the Commons. This would have lowered the clock should 20 minutes to midnight not be at its default position by 30 seconds. However, the clock has been moved 30 seconds toward midnight by the fact that this is upsetting the Conservative right.
The announcement of the referendum of the Alternative Vote system being next year would have also shaved 30 seconds off the time, but it has been announced that the Conservatives will campaign against voting reform under the leadership of David Cameron, meaning that the Liberal Democrats may fail to get this through. However, as Iain Dale suggests, this may not rock the boat should the referendum return a 'No' vote. As this is speculation at this point it has not changed the clock position but has been taken into account.
The latest opinion poll from YouGov, which suggests a large dip in support for the Liberal Democrats has not altered the clock, since there have been no significant reactions to said poll in any grassroots or Parliamentary capacity.
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