He can't seem to make his mind up:
Gordon Brown will not decide whether to call an early election until after Labour's party conference next week, The Daily Telegraph has learnt.
The Prime Minister will use the gathering in Bournemouth to test the party mood and the public's reaction to his first conference before meeting his closest advisers to decide on the issue of a snap vote.
The tight window for an October election means that if he intends to take advantage of his opinion poll lead, he would have to go to the Queen early the following week, while the Tories are meeting in Blackpool. The election could then be held on Oct 25.
Senior Labour figures and allies of Mr Brown have broken ranks and are privately urging him to call a surprise election. One very key official has told the Prime Minister that the machinery, funding and general ability to mobilise a strong, but swift campaign is in place. (The Telegraph)
I still don't think he'll go for it. He doesn't want to risk having the mantle of the Premiership which he has coveted for so long being ripped from his shoulders so soon after getting it. Even despite the recent polls giving him a huge personal lead over Cameron and a potential 8 point party lead, I don't think that he is actually going to go for it. He just won't want to risk it. He is inherently cautious - and that led to the many bungled attempts to make Tony Blair leave office over the last few years of his premiership.The Prime Minister will use the gathering in Bournemouth to test the party mood and the public's reaction to his first conference before meeting his closest advisers to decide on the issue of a snap vote.
The tight window for an October election means that if he intends to take advantage of his opinion poll lead, he would have to go to the Queen early the following week, while the Tories are meeting in Blackpool. The election could then be held on Oct 25.
Senior Labour figures and allies of Mr Brown have broken ranks and are privately urging him to call a surprise election. One very key official has told the Prime Minister that the machinery, funding and general ability to mobilise a strong, but swift campaign is in place. (The Telegraph)
The idea that an election now would be a "mandate" election whilst a later election will be a "verdict" election seems plausible - but would be [and would be seen to be] a simple example of opportunism to take an election now, which could lead to a punishment at the polls. Maybe this punishment would not be all that severe, but if Gordo held an election and returned with less of a majority than that left to him by Tony Blair that would severely hurt him politically.
It is simply too risky for Gordo to plump for an election now. We haven't yet returned to "normal politics" after his coronation, the summer recess, and the conference season. I think that it is simply too risky for Gordo to go now. I think that if he doesn't take the chance for the election now, he'll hang on till the bitter end of the term.
Source: The Telegraph
