ELECTION COMING…PUT YOUR SHIRT ON IT

24-09-2007

As Labour launches it's annual conference in Bournemouth, government circles are abuzz with rumours that Gordon Brown will call a snap election. The Stirrer reckons you can put your shirt on it (er, as long as it's not an expensive one).

We can't claim any special insider knowledge mind, but all our soundings suggest that it's an issue which - as you might expect - is uppermost in his mind. Indeed, even last week at the height of the Northern Rock crisis, there was a buoyant mood among Labour insiders.

Last week's local council by-election results in the Midlands (Labour won overall control in Worcester, and took seats in Nuneaton and Birmingham Brandwood) suggested that the Brown Bounce was continuing skywards like a turbo charged rubber ball.

A poll in today's Sun by IPSOS/MORI underlines the continuing gap between the Prime Minister and Tory pretender David Cameron who has been robbed of his major asset - Tony Blair.

The pollsters point to the confusion among voters about whether the Conservative's recent policy reviews represent their official line - they don't; but this only underlines the sense of a party still uncertain about its future direction.

Much is made of Gordon Brown's caution but with an eight point lead in some survey - which translated into votes could lead to an increased majority - the rash decision would be to delay naming the date.

Expect an October election - and remember, The Stirrer told you first (Unless we're wrong, of course).