Will he go now?
James Forsyth 11:49am
As Gordon Brown prepares for tomorrow’s crunch meeting on whether or not to call an election the case against going early is getting stronger. A poll for the Daily Politics found that 57% of voters think Brown would be putting Labour’s interests ahead of those of the country if he went now; suggesting that Labour might not get the bump government normally do at the beginning of a campaign. Labour MPs in marginal seats are now telling the press that they don’t want an election this year and the early polling in the key marginals is reportedly “too close for comfort”.
Hedged against that is the diffuclty of backing down now. One cabinet source tells The Independent that "It's gone so far now, I don't think it can be stopped. I think Gordon is going to go for it." But there’s also a more positive reason to go early. Apparently Deborah Mattinson’s polling shows that voters don’t yet see Cameron as ready to be Prime Minister, an election this autumn could capitalise on these sentiments. Still, the balance this morning has to be against going.
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peta seel
October 6th, 2007 12:44pm Report this commentI hope you are wrong and he does go now. The best result would be a slim majority for him. Here is my reasoning: 1. It is far too late for a change of government to stop Gordon Brown's chickens (as Chancellor of the Exchequer) coming home to roost. They are already in full flight. 2. That being said, it would be quite wrong for anyone other than Gordon Brown to be in No.10 to welcome them home - and take responsibility for them. 3. A much-reduced majority for Gordon Brown will give David Cameron enough credibility to prevent yet another damaging leadership contest - for the moment, anyway. 4. Ask John Major how difficult it is to govern with a wafer-thin majority. At least it should ensure damage limitation on Great Britain over the next four to five years.
Seasurfer1
October 6th, 2007 1:26pm Report this commentIn Cornwall it looks like the Liberal Democrats will get wiped out and five conservative MPs returned because of the liberals getting the blame for the unpopular Unitary Authority.
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