The Tories should manoeuvre Brown away from a snap election
James Forsyth 11:41amThe Tories would far rather fight an election in 2010 than early next year. By 2010, reality will have caught up with Gordon Brown. But the best way for the Tories to avoid a poll next year is to talk about it endlessly.
Brown Central is aware that they cannot go through another bout of election speculation like the one in the summer of 2007; it would look hideously self-serving at this time of economic crisis. So, if Brown does decide to go early, he’ll aim for a snap announcement too.
The Tory counter should be to start talking about it now. A line to take would be:
"We know what he did last summer—and he’s doing the same again, flirting with an election for partisan advantage. With Gordon Brown the question is always what’s in his interest not the national interest."
Given the press’s fascination with election timing - just look at the front of today’s Guardian if you doubt me - the consequences of an early election would quickly become a staple of political conversation. And because Brown knows that he can’t afford another round of election speculation, there’s a good chance he could be bounced into ruling it out.
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Slim Jim
November 19th, 2008 11:58am Report this commentReality will never catch up with Brown. It's the great unwashed that will hit reality with a very painful bang.
I Dunnow
November 19th, 2008 12:11pm Report this commentHow lucky our foolish politicians are to have *journalists* to hand to give them advice about politics. A subject they know so little about and journalists so very much. Though here's a curious thing: if Brown disavows an election today, why exactly is it any shape whatsoever difficult for him to call one, on any one of umpty bazillion grounds, later? If only I was a journalist, I suppose then I'd know.
TomB
November 19th, 2008 12:14pm Report this commentCan the country endure a further year of Labour incompetence and misrule ?
Ray
November 19th, 2008 12:33pm Report this commentSlim Jim - I share your frustration. However, even Rasputin was successfully undone... in the end.
RODEST
November 19th, 2008 1:02pm Report this commentThe reality is that Brown does not beleive that he will loose an election whenever it comes.
What cameron has to do is remind the electorate that Brown has taken real money from peoples pockets with his tax and spend ppolicies. A perfect example is Browns' raid on pension funds and the misery that has caused.
Tory policies need to show where savings can be made without affecting front line services or showing how services would improve because of their savings.
Verity
November 19th, 2008 3:27pm Report this commentJames, with respect, I would have to endorse what Slim Jim said.
The appalling reality is there for all to see. By 2010 there will have been a recovery of sorts. Now is the time to have gone in for the kill - as brutally as possible.
Instead, Cameron continues to ponce around in his stupid little cycling hat, pretending that he has a big secret strategy but now isn't the time to reveal it.
Cannot people see that the man is hopelessly out of his depth? In fact, I think they can see it all too clearly and Tories will stay away during the next election, or they'll vote UKIP. The Conservatives will lose the next election, which should have been a walk-over.
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