Silent Hunter

There's a possibility of an election this year. Brown hasn't ruled it in or it.

I watched his speech today (I'm a Labour member) and was quite impressed, although he took a bit too long to get to actual policies.

VarSity

I think Brown will call one. He has a big lead in the poles and will get an easy win in my opinion.

He is not the best at public speaking though. The man never seems to have any passion.

Tarek Morgen

Has the British Pm the power to simply call for new elections? Or can the parlament dissolve itself?

Silent Hunter

The PM has the power to call for new elections any time within five years from the last one. Parliament can dissolve itself by passing a vote of no-confidence in the government (last done in 1979).

glyn

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astralis

glyn,

hell, that's no big surprise. i'm not sure if the conservatives aren't to the left of the democratic party.

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glyn

Callmecur

A freudian slip because he is a big hit with the Poles?????

I think he would win an election whether it was called today or next year because quite simply there is no other alternative and I cannot see there being an alternative for a long time to come. We need someone who has the gonads to walk away from Europe and repeal the Human Rights Act, reintroduce border controls and stop worrying about world opinion.

Ironduke

How long after a call for elections is made will the elections be held? I was under the impression that the general elections won't be until 2008 or 09.

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Trooth

I think there are two reasons he is holding off calling an election.

1) He ants to see the fallout from the hysteria surrounding the financial "crisis" die down. If anything goes wrong with the economy, Brown will have to take the rap (he has been at the helm for a decade) regardless of the actual cause.

2) I think the Tories are keen for there to be an election too not for some pseudo-referendum on that there European treaty but because Cameron and his froth are not going to win them power and it is easier to get rid of a leader that has lost an election. If Brown does not go to the country soon, the Tories will have to start amassing a proper election policy under DC (not the rubbish Cameron has been coming up with until now) and at that point the old divisions will spring up. Lib Dems are probably thinking the same thing about Campbell.

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Silent Hunter

A few weeks- depending on when it's called (there's a timeline that's activated and it's stopped on holidays and weekends).

The election was expected in 2009, but with Labour's current lead in the polls, there's been speculation that it might be earlier.

Trooth

As a general rule it is normally 1 month (to the nearest Thursday) from the PM asking the Queen for a dissolution of Parliament (the indication that the race is on) to polling day. It's a well rehearsed timetable as you might imagine.

As a rule if you can you have an election in the summer (better weather = higher turnout) but that seems a bit long for Brown so apparently he is talking about having one this year and November is clearly better than December.

Skull6

LOL. I'm learning a great deal by reading this thread. But I must admit, at first glance of the thread's title, I was left wondering why the British would suddenly be voting on the Commanders of their military.

("General election" as in "election of Generals")

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Dectilion

I cant believe people are actually believing the trollop being said in the Labour conference speeches. The new Labour post campaign is supposed to say "No Flash... Just Gordon" It should say "All Flash...that's Gordon" I hear there speeches, i hear the same lies, the same promises weve had from Labour for the last decade, this will just be more broken promises. If you think Labours the only party worth voting for, then dont bother voting, personally id vote in a teddy bear if it meant an end to Labour rule.

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dave lukins

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