A senior Tory insider has told Recess Monkey that Conservative HQ is prepared for a snap General Election if and when Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister.
The MP said, “This budget hinted that Brown has a manifesto prepared and although it’s a high-risk strategy, he may decide to take that manifesto to the country and seek a new mandate before David Cameron gets a head of steam”.
With polls still predicting a Labour majority of 50 at the next election and the Labour Party commencing parliamentary selections this coming June - unprecedentedly early for the Labour Party, there is a hint of credibility to Tory fears. Yet this Conservative says it’s not in the bag for Brown.
“We have gone over all the permutations and it is clear that we are ready for any strategy the Labour Party can come up with”
An apparatchik at Tory HQ confirmed the mood. She said, “Before the last election, the place was a mess and there was very little faith that we had campaigning skills in depth. Now Conservative HQ is like a machine and it’s hard to believe we can lose”.
The Tories may sense the wheels coming off the New Labour project but they are faced with a formidable Chancellor who has no intention of being a short term Prime Minister.
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Damm, that means I think like Tory HQ…
What will be the pretext? If the snap election strategy is high risk, then this is potentially fatal, but do I remember Gordon saying that they wouldn’t raise the retirement age without a mandate…?
Like I said, a high risk if not fatal pretext given GB’s history on pensions, but he’s going to need a reason… and his power of self belief is at least equal to Blair’s…
ringverse said this on March 24th, 2006 at 7:57 am
Not sure whether Labour would be able to afford another election campaign so soon after the last one. Not unless they put everything on the credit card and then nationalise all the banks when returned to power.
Simeon McCack said this on March 24th, 2006 at 8:26 am
A senior Tory insider?
“Before the last election, the place was a mess and there was very little faith that we had campaigning skills in depth. Now Conservative HQ is like a machine and it’s hard to believe we can lose”.
Obviously you are talking to a senior Canadian Conservative party insider.
They have difficulty organising a mailshot you muppet Monkey.
Guido Fawkes said this on March 24th, 2006 at 11:14 am
I agree that a snap election is unlikely, as it is risky even when the government is on a high in the polls (look at what happened to Chirac a few years back, when the PS won against the odds and he ended up in cohabitation for a term of office).
Dave also needs to get a grip on the Tory Party: he looked a bit loony in the way he ranted at the Chancellor (I was surprised Brown didn’t put him down for this on the spot). Also he had that strange fellow on his right who doesn’t come across very well on Newsnight. Osborne I think his name is. Did you see the strange flapping motion he made on the shoulder when Dave sat down? Weird chappie, almost as strange as Letwin (who reminds me of that strange - and unelectable - Hague fellow). On his left Dave was flanked by that very sensible Villiers woman. For dogs sake, she looks and acts like a normal human being. If he is serious about people liking the Tory Pary Dave needs to pull out more like her.
TheVoleStrangler said this on March 24th, 2006 at 11:21 am
Dont think there is any precident for this is there??
Sounds like the same old rumours again.
PBS2 said this on March 25th, 2006 at 1:36 am
I’m not saying it won’t happen - I believe GB would prefer a majority of one if he could claim that as a personal mandate to inheriting a majority of 66 secured under Blair - but there are good political reasons for waiting too. Firstly, there are obvious risks in holding an election while Cameron is still in his honeymoon period. Secondly, many people are unconvinced by the idea of Brown as PM and he will want to convince them he can actually do the job before submitting himself to the electorate. I think he’ll give himself 18 months to two years to do that, so if he takes over this autumn, we could be looking at an election in 2008.
Paul Linford said this on March 25th, 2006 at 2:29 am
Someone said that Labour couldn’t afford another election, well I don’t think the other parties could either.
The only way Brown could win an election was if he called for it between six and twelve months after he came to office…..or he could arrange a free-vote in the commons on whether or not to dissolve parliament, would call Dave’s bluff.
Dr. Freling
dr.freling said this on March 25th, 2006 at 3:36 am
“Labour Party commencing parliamentary selections this coming June ”
IIRC, it was some local associations which asked to be allowed to start the selection process earlier.
JoHo said this on March 25th, 2006 at 5:11 am
The Vole Strangler - Osborne’s budget rebuttal was a complete snoresville too. He’s a very strange character. Comes across as weirdy ‘old’ Tory, just younger.
Complete turn-off.
As I believe Cameron’s pudding face will be when he ventures out of CCO more often…
Steve said this on March 25th, 2006 at 6:20 am
Heard it here first…Why would the Labour Party possibly be selecting its candidates for the next general election *this Summer*? Do they know something we don’t?
Probably. The Conservatives’ theory is (apparently) …
Chris Doidge: Becoming More Like...Me said this on March 26th, 2006 at 10:56 am
I published this on 17 March.
http://baileyblogspot.blogspot.com/2006/03/shh-dont-say-word-but.html
Brown’s only chance of a decent sort of premiership is to go to the polls very early.
For the first time in 8 years, the Tories need to hold Blair in office for as long as possible.
God help us all!
Richard Bailey said this on March 29th, 2006 at 12:48 pm