No General Election!

Well, what would you know! Having let speculation build and build over the last two weeks or so, Gordon Brown turned around today and announced that there would not be an election.

There can be no other explanation than he has totally bottled it. If he was never going to call an election, he would have stopped all the speculation stone dead. Brown had totally backed himself into a corner, where the only option seemed to be to call an election. Yet he has stunned us all.

The leaders of the other political parties must be thinking all their Christmases have come at once, as this gives them unlimited ammunition in which to attack Brown. The SNP have got the ball rolling by calling Brown a "feartie"!

On a personal note, I m quite disappointed. As the prospect of a GE increased I was getting quite excited. There is nothing like the buzz that election day gives you. I was looking forward to a long night in front of the TV and Peter Snow's Swingometer. However it is not to be. Having two elections in one year would have been a bit greedy though.

Wonder if Brown will live to regret this decision though?

General Election?

Barely have we managed to catch our breath after the last election, than another election is potentially about to be unleashed upon us.

At one stage it seemed as if it was full steam ahead for an election with anyone connected with Labour stoking the fires that pointed to an early poll. With the Comprehensive Spending Review and pre Budget report being brought forward ahead of schedule and Labour bods scurrying about trying to raise money an election seemed inevitable.

However, the last three opinion polls have caused Brown to have second thoughts. Indeed in one of the polls, Labour's lead has been wiped out. Will he still want to go for it or will he revert back to type. Becasue for long enough, he had the chance to make his move on Tony Blair, but decided to remain in the background. Will he do the same in deciding to shy away from an election?

However, there is a shadow chasing Brown. He was the most successful Chancellor in recent history, if not ever. But he is aware, perhaps more than anyone, that an economic boom cannot last for ever. Therefore pretty soon, we are going to be facing some tough economic times. Perhaps we are seeing the start of it with the demise of Northern Rock. So he will want to get an election out of the way before the real effect of that kicks in.

Also with Gordon Brown refusing to quell speculation that an election is imminent, it now seems impossible for him not to call one. David Cameron at the Tory Party conference, added to the voices calling for an early challenge to Brown's leadership. This is surely only false bravadoism by Cameron as he has next to no chance of winning. Then it will be bye-bye for him as party leader (could we see the return of William Hague?)

So if there is going to be one, when will it be? The popular thinking of everyone who is remotely interested in politics is that November the 8th is the most likely date of the poll.

But will Gordon Brown have the guts to call it? After all the hype that has been built up, I am now rather looking forward to the prospect, so he had better bl**dy call it!!