Government Affairs Blog

Gordon, you tease

As far as I know Gordon Brown has never been publicly described as a tease.  Dour certainly but the British public must now take on board the idea that Gordon is a bit of a tease.

When elected he made it clear that the Prime Minister would decide when to call the next general election.  He then appointed a campaign manager for the Labour party, made sure a draft manifesto was worked on and funds sought.  All part of Gordon’s preparation for an October election? 

The predictions are that if the Prime Minister wants to go to the country he will call it at the Labour party conference or at the beginning of the Conservative one.  He has refused to rule out the idea of October.  As one of the most astute politicians of his generation he will be fully aware this will mean the media, and other politicians, continue to speculate. 

There is no constitutional reason for Brown to call an election in the autumn.  Strategically there might be.  If he can win the general election next month he has his own mandate (not a constitutional issue but perhaps a political one), he avoids any further fallout from Northern Rock and any problems the trade unions might create in the winter.   On the other hand there he could easily carry on and call an election next year, the year after or the year after that.

Against going to the country commentators say Brown is risk averse and cautious.  That is to assume there is more risk going now than waiting.

Of course, and it has been said many times, by keeping the speculation going he unnerves the Conservatives and brings the disgruntled in the Labour party into line.

Whatever happens we now know one thing for sure.  Gordon is a bit of a tease.

Simon Goldie is Head of Communications at The Chartered Institute of Taxation – www.tax.org.uk - and a member of the CIPR GAG committee