Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Just seen that Nadine Dorries MP says in her blog,
"Labour ‘sources’ (as in mates who happen to also be MPs) reckon the announcement will be made next Thursday".
It is a little bit cryptic, but I think this is the first prediction I've seen with an exact date: Brown goes to the palace on Thursday 27th October after the Labour conference. If so, I hope polling day will be the 25th October as I am planning to be in the States the previous week. More to the point it would mean he had agreed the final EU Treaty on the 18th/19th and it would give him a mandate for its ratification by parliament not a referendum. If he goes before it would have to be on Thursday 18th when EU leaders are supposed to be gathering for their informal agreement on the final text. This would be like asking for permission to join them - a "who governs" type question, that would appear weak, and in elections the perception of strength is everything. Any other predictions welcome.
