Reasons not to have an ‘early’ general election: a footnote

At the weekend I threw in another reason why Gordon Brown is very unlikely to call a general election before May.

The Times’s Danny Finkelstein has a good perspective on the issue today:

“In every election I have been involved in, there has been a last-minute rumour about an early poll date. And every one has involved a mad dash to get things ready, all those little practical details that you were going to get round to but hadn’t. Followed by anticlimax.”

Quite.

It’s sensible to err on the side of caution and be prepared (who has ever regretted being prepared in what turns out to be good time?). It’s also worth remembering that we have, very occasionally, got close to a genuinely early election (both Brown and Major toyed with the idea in the autumn after becoming Prime Minister).

So whilst those who always blithely put off getting prepared keep on running risks which one day will come back to haunt them, usually there’s far more hype and over-excitement than the realities justify.

Read more by or more about , or .
This entry was posted in General Election and News.
Advert

One Comment

  • matt severn 16th Dec '09 - 9:18pm

    There is nothing to lose for Gordon Brown in going to the country in March, but his chronic cowardice will probably prevent him!

Post a Comment

Lib Dem Voice welcomes comments from everyone but we ask you to be polite, to be on topic and to be who you say you are. You can read our comments policy in full here. Please respect it and all readers of the site.

To have your photo next to your comment please signup your email address with Gravatar.

Your email is never published. Required fields are marked *

*
*
Please complete the name of this site, Liberal Democrat ...?

Advert

Recent Comments

  • Nonconformistradical
    @Jenny Barnes "Out of the thousands of cars parked on the roads very few, one suspects, are owned by disabled people." 'one suspects....' - it would be hel...
  • Tristan Ward
    There's an explanation from Steve Darling who (I assume) was leading on this bill (he knows a thing or two about disability) circulating on Mark Pack's Whats...
  • David Raw
    As someone who first joined the Liberal Party in 1961 there was no doubt then we had an inspiring Leader in Jo Grimond who not only could make a speech, but cou...
  • Andy Chandler
    But back to Jack's article. It's positive to see this. I have always believed that in order to have the freedom of; (assembly, trade, enterprise, choice etc) it...
  • Andy Chandler
    @James I agree that I struggle to understand what the LibDems stand for; it doesn't seem to have much roots in the party philosophy. I disagree with your ass...