Labour insiders have been busy pouring buckets of cold water over al the chatter about an early election. They clearly realise how damaging any suggestion that the Prime Minister is playing this crisis for partisan advantage would be to their prospects. Certainly, the one who told Ben Brogan, “No chance. There’s more chance of getting Gordon and David Cameron to record a duet of Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” deserves marks for originality.
But there is only one definitive way for Labour to stop all this speculation: have Brown rule out an election in 2009. At the moment, all we have is off-the-record denials from unnamed officials. Brown’s own statements have left him some, if not much, wriggle room.
It is understandable that Brown won’t rule out an ’09 poll; one of the advantages of incumbency is getting to choose when to go to the country. But until Brown does, the press will continue to speculate.
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