When will the election be?

[Puggit]

I've read an article today, which says the best course of action would be for Brown to call an election now. Thus admitting his faults and wrong footing the Tories, catching them out - without many concrete policies.

Obviously this is the best plan for the Labour Party, and not for Winky himself, so is fairly unlikely.
What's your bet?

[thinfourth2]

Early election

You must be mad the tories could have a policy that everything i the country must be painted bright orange and the letter E is banned and they could still win

[Puggit]

Labour would never win an early election, but it would give them a shout of an early return (ie only one period of government in opposition). A rapid clean out of Winky and pals, a new party... All before even more damage is done.

[Duke of Rothesay]

I think that the one eyed, mouth breathing, Scottish stroke victim is on his way out.
The press and his own party have got their knives out now and they want blood.
It is so evident that he is totally useless now.

Then there must be an election:
1) No democratic mandate left after two leaders not facing the electorate.
2) Time needed in opposition to fix the party.
3) We are not at the bottom of the economy yet, best to let the Conservatives take us there.
4) The longer they leave it the less support they will have. Libdems could become the official opposition.
5) Without the focus of an election the labour party may well explode.

[Asterix]

I'd also assume that the Toryies have 90% of their manifesto ready to go with the last 10% just waiting to see what Winky comes up with.

I don't blame them at all for not coming out with any policies for June 2010 - if a week is a long time in politics, then a year... anyway, as proven, as soon as CMD launches a policy that is sensible and Labour see that the public like it, they steal it.

[Martial Arts Man]

Asterix said:

I'd also assume that the Toryies have 90% of their manifesto ready to go with the last 10% just waiting to see what Winky comes up with.

I don't blame them at all for not coming out with any policies for June 2010 - if a week is a long time in politics, then a year... anyway, as proven, as soon as CMD launches a policy that is sensible and Labour see that the public like it, they steal it.

Yup. Anyone who really thinks that after a million years in the wilderness, the Tories don't have a concrete plan, is mad.

I suspect we'll all be a little surprised at the "conservativeness" of their manifesto.

About time too.

[Jasandjules]

It will be as last as possible, for two reasons:

So they can make more money from scamming and expenses

So they can f**k up the public finances to hope the Tories can't fix it in three years so they get in on the next election

[Martial Arts Man]

Jasandjules said:

So they can f**k up the public finances to hope the Tories can't fix it in three years so they get in on the next election

My brain seems to be totally asleep this morning, so perhaps you know the answer to this.

Has this ever happened before; a gov't totally, unquestionably fking things up, getting booted out, then winning the next election along as a result of their replacements not shoring everythng up quickly enough?

I just think this is wishful thinking from Labour. They successfully blamed the Tories for their mistakes in office for 12 years.....and still do so!

[Jasandjules]

I doubt it has ever happened (I know not the answer), however I have so low regard for the self serving scum that I would not put this kind of tactic past them.

I suspect (hope/dream) that we'll get the Tories in power next time round, and, like the last time Labour sc***d up the country, the Tories stay in for a fair while to correct it...

[chris watton]

Jasandjules said:

It will be as last as possible, for two reasons:

So they can make more money from scamming and expenses

So they can f**k up the public finances to hope the Tories can't fix it in three years so they get in on the next election

You know, this is what I think too - this nasty shower are so petty and self obsessed that I am sure they will do as much economic and financial damage as they possibly can, scorched earth policy, just out of sheer spite.
I can’t help feeling that they have betrayed absolutely what they stand for and their electorate.

Edited by chris watton on Monday 4th May 09:55

[Martial Arts Man]

chris watton said:

You know, this is what I think too - this nasty shower are so petty and self obsessed that I am sure they will do as much economic and financial damage as they possibly can, scorched earth policy, just out of sheer spite.
I can’t help feeling that they have betrayed absolutely what they stand for and their electorate.

Edited by chris watton on Monday 4th May 09:55

The silver lining is that any scorched earth decisions will be interpreted as simply more malpractise. Which is ultimately damning.

[Asterix]

chris watton said:

Jasandjules said:

It will be as last as possible, for two reasons:

So they can make more money from scamming and expenses

So they can f**k up the public finances to hope the Tories can't fix it in three years so they get in on the next election

You know, this is what I think too - this nasty shower are so petty and self obsessed that I am sure they will do as much economic and financial damage as they possibly can, scorched earth policy, just out of sheer spite.
I can’t help feeling that they have betrayed absolutely what they stand for and their electorate.

Edited by chris watton on Monday 4th May 09:55

With the first quote - CMD has to come out and say that there will hard times ahead and that it will hurt for a while - I believe John Major said 'if it isn't painfull, it isn't working'. If they can table sound, sensible policies that make sense in the long term then he'll get his mandate. Also buidling a cabinet that has real world experience and success will go a huge way to soothing the fears of the country.

...as far as the betrayment - it started the day John Smith died.

[unrepentant]

May 6th 2010.

[Dunk76]

thinfourth2 said:

Early election

You must be mad the tories could have a policy that everything i the country must be painted bright orange and the letter E is banned and they could still win

The Dutch are standing for election?!?

I'm in!

Pancake?

[tinman0]

May 2010.

Gordon Brown knows that this is it. He won't be returned as the victor whatever happens, he won't be Party leader after this innings, and he will hold onto this job till the bitter end as there is little that can remove him.

[thinfourth2]

tinman0 said:

May 2010.

Gordon Brown knows that this is it. He won't be returned as the victor whatever happens, he won't be Party leader after this innings, and he will hold onto this job till the bitter end as there is little that can remove him.

And we invaded Iraq to give them democracy

Oh the irony

[Asterix]

thinfourth2 said:

tinman0 said:

May 2010.

Gordon Brown knows that this is it. He won't be returned as the victor whatever happens, he won't be Party leader after this innings, and he will hold onto this job till the bitter end as there is little that can remove him.

And we invaded Iraq to get their oil

Oh the irony

EFA

[Don]

My guess is that they will hang on to power right up to the last possible moment - May/June 2010, IIRC.

This is because they are, without a doubt, currently facing a Tory landslide in England and an SNP battle in Scotland. They will be hoping for an upturn in the polls - based on doing a reasonable job in the face of "events". (No prediction on what these will be).

Every Labour MP in a "dodgy" constituency will be behind this strategy as it is another year in a well paid job with ludicrously generous benefits.

Gordon himself is in his dream job he waited a decade for. He will not leave either the job - or power - willingly.

So. We will either see a surprise election shortly after an upturn in the polls - or, and I think this is much more likely, it will be right at the end.

The outcome of this election is going to be very interesting. If Labour get the pounding they deserve it could herald the end of the Parliamentary Labour Party as we know it. They might not even be the Opposition.

This is because if their power base in Scotland gets taken over by the SNP - who then get the Union dissolved - there won't be many supporters left to get voted into Westminster.

Exciting times. Politics could become very different.


And people say voting makes no difference - PAH!

[Scraggles]

last possible date, mostly to give them as much money as possible and then to cause the country as much problems as possible, so that when in opposition, they can jeer and shout that the tories have not fixed nu labia's policies

[Jasandjules]

Scraggles said:

last possible date, mostly to give them as much money as possible and then to cause the country as much problems as possible, so that when in opposition, they can jeer and shout that the tories have not fixed Maggie's policies

EFA