Next UK General Election to be in 2009

[Badboy]

Well Gordon has checked the opinion polls and decided to put plans for a snap election on hold.

What do people think the consequences are for Britain and Ireland?

Cameron is an unknown when it comes to Ireland, even though the background might be considered unpromising.

FF have a little longer to organise now.

Certainly to me as someone who lived in the Uk for a while, it looks like this is the first time that New Labour have been on the backfoot since the currenct crisis in the mid nineties.

[Defeated Romanticist]

Gordon's a wimp

[infamous-el-guapo]

Gordon's a wimp

Agreed. Couldn't look any weaker right now.

[seanad voter]

Rubbish ! Who wants an election at this time of year in the run-up to Christmas and with fireworks being flung about like fivers at a Fianna Fail Manchester dinner.

There is no precedent for a modern PM taking over (Douglas-Home, Callaghan, Major) from a sitting PM and immediately calling an election. This hype has been stoked by the medja around Conference time. The foot-soldiers of Labour like myself who'd have to get out on dark nights and knock doors are relieved, thanks very much.

[infamous-el-guapo]

Rubbish ! Who wants an election at this time of year in the run-up to Christmas and with fireworks being flung about like fivers at a Fianna Fail Manchester dinner.

There is no precedent for a modern PM taking over (Douglas-Home, Callaghan, Major) from a sitting PM and immediately calling an election. This hype has been stoked by the medja around Conference time. The foot-soldiers of Labour like myself who'd have to get out on dark nights and knock doors are relieved, thanks very much.

I wasn't looking forward to canvassing in the rain either but Brown was trying to make some spin and uspet the tories. It completely back-fired and now he looks like an idiot

[Compound Fracture]

Brown's election climbdown has been one of the most spectacular strategic political disasters that New Labour has faced since they were elected in 1997.

Two weeks ago, they were faced with the chance to destroy David Cameron, and smash the Conservative Party to an extent which would consign it to Opposition for another 10 years.

If there was an election today, however, there would be a Hung Parliament!

Only someone as thick and cowardly as Brown could achieve such a spectacular turnaround.

Three cheers for Cameron though. It was 30% luck, and 70% good response from him (the Tory Conference went like a dream)

[PatMcL]

Well done to Brown for not calling an election at the worst time of the year. Only a fool believes the bravado of Cameron and the Tory hacking news sheets. Best let the election lie for another two years and watch as Cameron takes the Tories further down the road to oblivion with his hapless stunts and photo-ops. Why destroy a party when they are obviously capable of doing it to themselves?

[Eddiepops]

I think they'll win it, especially as Brown will only call it at a fortuitous time. But I still hope and pray for a hung parliament that will hand the real victory to the Lib Dems

[seanad voter]

Listen to the birdies ... May 2008.

[Badboy]

But he can't call in in 2008. He has already said he won't.

I think he has made a horrific miscalculation egged on by prats like Ed Milliband and Edd Balls who think that they not Blair were the brains behind New Labours electoral strategy.

Cameron along with two or three people are trying to drag the Conservatives into the 21st century.

Anyone who underestimates a person who is prepared to take on the Tory establishment, the Thatcherite press and the Government should not be underestimated.

A political party whose majority is based on 38% of the popular vote should not be so arrogant as Labour.