Prime Minister Gordon Brown may have set the stage for a 6 May election. Photo credit: World Economic Forum
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has set expectations for a 6 May election – the same day as the local elections – after announcing that this year’s budget will be out on 24 March: The Guardian explained that a 24 March budget means that the debate will unfold over the next week, putting Brown in place to go to Buckingham Palace to call an election on 6 April.
But even as some political types scramble to book their hotel reservations for 6 May, it isn’t definite, The Times opined today: “By setting the Budget for March 24, the Prime Minister came close to confirming this. But it could be a ruse to trick us all.” The paper urged Brown to fix a date and end the speculation, but also recommended instituting a fixed term: “There is no important constitutional principle served by permitting the Prime Minister the power to choose a date that suits.”
During the same address today, Brown warned that Britain’s economy is still in “choppy waters”, but claimed that he nonetheless has the “character” to lead the nation through the squall. Read a transcript of Brown’s speech here.
Whether anyone believes him remains to be seen: Daniel Hannan, Conservative MP and a writer for The Telegraph, wrote today, “Consider that character for a moment. The most striking feature of Gordon Brown’s personality is his utter inability to take decisions.”
The Wall Street Journal’s Iain Martin also noted that it was “highly illuminating” that Brown “skipped over yesterday’s terrible U.K. trade figures”: “And no wonder, they were truly terrible. The pound has fallen significantly and this devaluation might have been expected to boost the U.K.’s exports. But the opposite has happened and the trade gap has widened.” Doesn’t speak well of Brown’s “character.”
Brown also used his speech to announce pay freezes for senior staff in the civil service, the military, the judiciary, the health service and the pay of consultants, GPs and dentists, ignoring recommendations for minimal pay rises among some public sector jobs.
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