I think that when Gordon Brown decides to call the election, it will be definitely be one of the most eagerly anticipated elections in British politics and possibly more than the 2008 American presidential election.
Obama ran a superb race, and while doubts lingered at the back of our mind we knew he had the presidency sewn up months before November 4.
Political commentators are absolutely spot on when they say that for the first time in a while, there is a clear distinction in policy and ideals between the Labour Party and Conservative Party. It is no longer one party merely coming to power by capitalising on the failures of another.
Margaret Thatcher and John Major kept Labour in opposition for 18 years, while the birth of Tony Blair and New Labour has kept the Tories in opposition for 11 years.
A weakening John Major famously called the general election on 17 March 1997 as his five year term ran out.
To kickstart my search for what some of the public think about the outcome of a general election, I thought of no one better than friend and mentor Cleland Thom, one of the UK’s leading journalism trainers.
As it points out on his online profile page, he has dined with MPs such as Justice Secretary, Jack Straw and former London mayor Ken Livingston. He also happened to interview a certain….Baroness Margaret Thatcher! Ever heard of her?
Cleland said: “I think Labour will win it – the public will see Gordon Brown as a safe pair of hands regarding the economy, and also someone who’s trying his best to help. But it will be close – maybe a hung Parliament, with the LibDems holding sway … and Vince Cable becoming Chancellor. The Tories’ only hope is to bring back Ken Clarke as Chancellor.
I think the election will be in May – before the economy gets worse (and it will – much, much worse). Brown will stand on a ‘Back me or sack me’ mandate in terms of handling the economy. And Britain will be in debt for ever more.”
Will a different Prime Minister be welcoming world leaders to Number 10 or can Brown hold what ever nerve he has?
