Anthony Barnett (London, OK): "The next four weeks, I believe, will determine the course of politics for the foreseeable future." This is Iain Dale's alarmed conclusion to his column in today's Telegraph. It's his reaction to Brown's takeover bid for Thatcher and Saatchi and Saatchi (wonderfully satirised by Steve Bell). It does indeed point to Brown calling an October election. Here is my start to the list of why he should:
- He has the momentum.
- The Tories seem unable to stop trashing each other - the latest being their internal row over the Quality of Life report which combines class war and blogland philistinism and stupidity, which I'll post about as soon as I can.
- The aftershocks of the day the world changed are just starting
- If house prices decline - as they should - however inflated they may be the feel good factor will go down with them.
- The referendum demand will undermine his claim to be trusted.
And why he shouldn't
- The demand for a referendum on Europe will be a decisively damaging election issue (EU summit is Oct 18)
- Scotland is a wild card
- It is out of character for him to cut and run
Please add your own lists of for and against.
