Calm down, calm down!

Some of my fellow Labour bloggers, party activists and members have short memories. Less than 12 months ago the Tories were disintegrating over academic selection and Labour was 14% ahead in the polls. The next election is not due for another 24 months, the economy is probably over the worst and Gordon Brown - though he admits that he has made mistakes - is not stupid.

If Labour hold Crewe, the economy remains reasonably stable and if Gordon loses the PR men and allows himself to be, well Gordon, then things just might begin to change. Cameron is 'likeable' but not really liked or trusted (particularly by his own party) and he is happy to come across as a leader who is all style but no substance. Once the Tory lead in the polls starts to close in Labour's favour the press will turn on Cameron and the 'traditional' tendency in his own party will start to make rumblings about how he needs to move further to the right etc.

A week really is a long time in politics and two years is a lifetime.

http://mike-ion.blogspot.com/

Comments

[Stephen Farrington]

The difference is that the Labour lead a year ago was bounce caused by Gordon Brown's honeymoon period. The trend has been downhill since 2005, only now is that truth revealing itself having been disguised by Mr Brown's bounce. The Conservatives have consistently occupied the lead for a long time; Labour's lead was a little holiday.

We have more to do than simply ride out the sub-prime crisis, fire a few "PR men" (ever popular scapegoats) and allow Mr Brown to be spectacular. There is a deep antipathy towards Labour at the moment and without major chance things will get worse.

[Robert]

Just watched Brown to day talking about the global economy, he was doing his walking bit again, he was walking back and for so fast the cameraman gave up.

I watched Cameron to day talking and whether you agree or not he is slick, he is Blair.

You have one bloke telling us it's full steam ahead into a nightmare, the other offering the swing voters a choice, stay with Brown and a crash or come back to us and win, and I bet I know which they will do.

As for me a disabled bloke it makes no difference who wins I will be stuffed either way.

But right now I'd say the Tories have it hands down.