Tim posted a piece on Tory Diary, regarding speculation at Westminster that an early election is imminent. I know, I know, why would you care what I think about the potential date of an election? But I think the early speculators are wrong.
Brown will wait as long as possible. The Quietus, remember? There is no benefical electoral outcome available to hundreds of Labour MPs; the only thing left for them to do is claim their salaries as long as they possibly can. Until the electoral waters close over their gaping, empty heads.
I wish it weren't true & that an election were imminent. But most of this speculation is made up, right, by People Like Us (who are becoming worried by the depth of the personal animus they feel towards Brown, and want him to go, out of cathartic, therapeutic necessity & a genuine fear about Scorched Earth Economics), and People Who Write For Newspapers, who I'm guessing can't bear the thought of 24 hours passing without a Brown-Up/Brown-Down cycle whirring, let alone the prospect of more than a year to the general election.
Labour have already started campaigning, of course, and will go on doing so, right until the removal vans pull up Downing Street. Steel yourself for month after month of Yvettian Television (it's like normal television, but with pinch-brained harridans who lie about stuff) and Jacquovian Home Secretary Questions (again, like normal Questions to the Home Secretary, but answered in a Like, Why Should I Care? I'll Be Gone Soon And I Got My 'Eadline Anyway type way).
It's going to be a long, long winter. And then another one. But Spring 2010 will come, eventually - even World-Saver Brown can't stop calendar time. Remember the wise words of Eeyore: The nicest thing about the rain is that it always stops. Eventually.
