Snap election

[Gromit]

Apparently all are agreed that Brown should call a snap election and Brown himself has confirmed that he has appointed an Election chief. In their present disarray, do you agree that an early election would be bad news for the Tories and a test too great for Cameron. Is a five year mandate for Brown a foregone conclusion?

[OBonio]

I think Labour would win if an election were called now. Ideally, we need Brown to prove his inability to be PM and then for him to call an election.

[jno]

yes, that's what John Major got, OBonio - some time to settle in before taking on the opposition in an election. It worked for him, and I imagine Brown will want to do much the same. He's waited for the job a long time and he won't want to risk it all at once.

[kwicky]

I don't think Brown should call an election, unless that is, he plans to change the last Labour manifesto. People vote for whats in the manifesto and not the leader of the party so there is nothing to gain from it. Brown is an unknown leadership quantity and many voters will not give him the benefit of the doubt. In the 2/3 years remaining he should establish his credentials first and then submit the party to a new election. The Tories would love an election as the negative publicity coupled with the disgruntled Blairites could cause Brown immense damage at present.

[Gromit]

I think the scenario is that Brown takes over, has a new style, less spin, does a pretty good job, has a bit of a honeymoon period then calls an election for next spring. The Tories are nowhere at the moment and 2 or 3 could give them time to actually get their act together. You are right that people voted for the policy and not the Prime Minister. I don't think he should call an election because the people didn't vote for him as Prime Minister, that is nonsense. Brown is a master tactician, and I think he will call early because he deems it astute to do so.

[helpmetoo]

obviously any election called 'early' should be viewed as a sign of weakness by the government.
hey....
in all walks of life when the choice is yours as to when to act ,you choose the point when it best suits, from your strongest position,
if things are so good and the government of the day is doing such a fine service to us all why not see out the term and call the election on the high point?
it is clear that an early election call spells out:
'its all going t*t* up from here, better call an election before it gets worse...
how about the 'golden rule'
if they dont see it out, boot them out!!!!