There was a time when Gordon Brown was toying with a double election next June - a general election on the same day as the European Parliament poll. However, it was before the great non-election fiasco of a year ago.
Today the PM has been hosing down speculation that he might call a "recession election" next June in the hope that the voters would give him a "doctor's mandate" rather than take a chance on a novice who might not know how to cure the patient. He told Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 his "undivided attention" is on the economy and that he isn't thinking about "internal politics."
There's no reason to doubt him. I suspect he is so scarred by what happened a year ago that he hasn't thought about election dates since. Equally, he would have to consider a 2009 election if he is ahead in the polls next spring. The Tories fear one while we are still in recession as it would be much harder to play their "time for change" card. But my guess is that Brown will carry on until 2010, not least because any attempt to exploit the downturn would look cynical and might well backfire.
Burglar Brown bluffs, blusters and boasts.
Burglar Brown drove the UK down, and down, and down.
Burglar Brown who flogged the pensions, and the gold.
Bungler Brown who fibbed and spun the press.
Bungler Brown who fibbed he made no mess.
Bungler Brown no media pinned him down.
Burglar Brown who spun his tax and spend.
Burglar Brown took on debt with no end.
Burglar Brown who took half the army guns,
Burglar Brown so left our men and women to die.
Bungler Brown who left his party £40 million in debt.
Bungler Brown who lied about his 10 pence bet.
Burglar Brown who had the Scots take over town.
Bungler Brown who let the UK down.
Bungler, Burglar, what you will, his fingers will be shut in the till, soon.
Posted by: mandy | Saturday, 22 November 2008 at 12:19 PM
Can't wait to bury this bunch of wasters at the polls roll on the election.
Posted by: Tomo | Saturday, 22 November 2008 at 01:24 PM
With the current huge crash of capitalism and the negligence of Government over proper regulation of the banks and financier monkeys who caused it, together with government by Brussels--and who knows how many NGOs are governing the lives of Britons--isn't it time to demand a serious cut in in the number of MPs and Lords, together with their fat expenses? So many meddling, incompetent, ineffectual, self-serving people, controlling a nation and its economy has proven to be a disaster for generations to come. Isn't it time to repeat Oliver Cromwell's order: "It is not fit that you should sit here any longer!"?
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I know Brown is wary of a recession election, as he should be. People need some help. Grown adults are now working jobs for 16 year olds and other typical teen jobs. How can people support a family making that kind of money?
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