The final countdown can finally begin.
As denoted by the nomenclature of the 6th May manifesto this morning, it is exactly a year to go until the date of the next general election.
Gordon Brown is clearly adamant that he will go the whole hog and stretch out his time in power for as long as he is able - because he knows that now he couldn't win an election, whenever it is held.
6th May next year sees the usual cycle of local elections across the London Boroughs and much of the rest of the country in any case, and so having a general election on the same day looks to me like a dead cert.
So we really can start counting the days.
And as we begin that countdown, I think especially of our candidates, many of whom have now been in place for a good two and a half years - and on red alert for an election at several points already during that time.
It has been a long, tough slog and I salute all of you who have been working tirelessly in your constituencies up until now. As we enter this final stage of the marathon, I trust that the prospect of victory, both locally and nationally, will drive you on in what will be a busy but extremely exciting twelve months.
