Although Mr Healey talks manfully about the need to boost turnout and cut costs, I'm told the real reason is to avoid two potentially huge nationwide defeats within four weeks of each other. When the plan was originally hatched, it was intended to avoid slings and arrows from rebel MPs plotting for a leadership change. It may still have that effect.
Unduly cynical, perhaps. I would normally be happy to buy the line about cutting costs; it's what ought to be done. If the decision had been announced months ago, this line of defence might hold some water. The trouble is that in the current climate, few would believe it even if it were true.
25 comments:
I suppose the original plan was to have a General Election and County Council Election on the same day. That has been the form since 97.
County, Euro and General all on one day would be too much - a lesson learned in Scotland.
So this decision also tells us that there is no General Election planned for 2009.
Hardly news given the state of things - but we have tacit government approval of this.
It will be good for the Conservatives as those annoyed with GB will sit at home. Shame the Euro are PR which will stem some of Labour's losses.
Would agree with the cost argument, also turnout would suffer, expecting people to go to the polls twice within 4 weeks!
Although dont imagine turnout will be above 30%.
How predictable! The government are due to get a hammering, so lets combine them into one news story by having them on the same day.
I can't say I wouldn't do the same though......
It's just started raining and I've got to walk home in it cos I forgot to bring a brolly out this morning. So, your careless use of words like "hold water" and "in this climate" are in very poor taste.
The government might appreciate the side benefit of avoiding separate defeats but realistically they couldn't ignore the calls from the people who have to run these elections who pointed out that having separate dates was both hugely costly and hugely difficult for them.
this decision also tells us that there is no General Election planned for 2009
events, dear boy, events...
Personally I think Brown will go to the country as soon as he sees a chink of light in the polls.
He may get some credit for spending all our savings and pensions in spring before the truly horrific nature of what is being done to us sinks in.
I think he'll have to go to the country before winter 2009 as there are going to be wide spread strikes when a lack of government money and high inflation ( maybe 10-15% by then ) combine.
Even von Brun can see this one coming as they will have to unleash the Cable inflation to destroy debt (and savings/private sector(ie Tory) pensions ) policy soon.
This could backfire.
In 2004, Labour benefited in the European elections from the fact that there were metropolitan elections on the same day but no elections in most rural areas. Conservatives struggled to persuade their activists in Shire counties to go out and campaign for the European elections, whilst urban areas where Labour were relatively strong saw much more campaign activity and a correspondingly higher turn-out. This distorted the results in a number of regions.
If this situation is reversed next June then the Government might regret the move and could easily be reduced to a rump in the European Parliament.
I'm not sure that Labour's remaining county councillors will appreciate fighting an election campaign that could be overshadowed by the European debate, having previously been pulled along on Tony Blair's coat-tails and large General Election turn-outs.
Iain - you are on the record as being in favour of fixed term parliaments. Presumably, by extension, you believe that the date for local polls should also be fixed. We always thought it was, but it now appears that this date can be moved arbitrarily by the Government. I know it's only for a month, but it has huge implications (see my blog post for examples). This decision is plain wrong. I know that costs concern you, but I hope that you will agree that the principle of fixed terms should hold true for all polls except in a genuine emergency.
The decision was first mooted about four or five months back, prior to even Waugh's initial musings in August. Don't start with the conspiracy theory nonsense, unless of course you want to attract the same crowd as Staines.
But just to keep you happy, here's an idea... what if Gordon found himself only a few percentage points behind a month before the Euro/County elections date? I mean, you would, wouldn't you?
I have no opinion on this subject. However, I would like to ask you Iain - are your twitter updates / diary notes a deliberate satire, like Craig Brown in Private Eye?
2.20. Write up interview with that jolly interesting man Farage.
2.50. Consider some pithy new phrases for exciting George Osborne. Wizzo!
3.20. Boris has invited me to check out his new haircut and I am jolly excited.
3.45. My blog now contains a very stern note about the recall of Parliament in Iceland to discuss money thingies. That's put everyone right.
4.15. Head home, feeling very good about my day. My poor little doggie is feeling a lot better - thank you all of you for your many kind cards, kisses and words of love.
5.25pm. Still stuck on this dreadful train to Essex. Gosh, I really must post a few very out-of-sorts lines about it in my blog tomorrow, which is read by more movers and shakers than any other public political blog in Greater London.
6.35pm. Can't write anything write now as cooking dinner for David and his adorable wife. Not trying to make you all jealous but this is the sort of thing that happens to a leading blogger these days. Wow! I also swear loudly during the dinner when I accidentally dropped some onion in the guacamole - I said "Oh s**t" very loudly. But David is so TODAY that he never raised a murmur. He just said jokingly "darling, are you sure we are at the right party - is this the right Iain?". What a great sense of humour he has!
9.55pm. After dinner. Can't help thinking how marvellous Margaret was. Ah well, tomorrow's another day. I will look through the Daily Mail on the train and get some ideas for my blog, I write all my own pieces you know but one must seek inspiration dear reader!
In fact, the idea was first mooted prior to a formal Government consultation (CLG hosted) on 20 May. So stop looking for a grassy knoll...
Four years ago in the North, they became "all postal" elections- mainly to save Blair's A***. This allowed a large amount of personation which combined with a postal strike in selected (mainly Tory)areas allowed Labour some extra 200 metropolitan Seats (it was all out in the Mets)I suspect they'll try the scam of making it all postal again.
I thought this was always going to happen. It makes sense to me.
I heard rumblings in the Tory party about them being unhappy about it but seeing as they're going all out at the Euro Elections this time round won't they benefit from using one lot of money for two elections?
Anonymous, 4.39. You're hired!
You REALLY think we'll get an election?
Dream on.
After today's massive meeting of EU finance ministers which hatched a mouse of a result: 50,000 euro saftey net - wow, don't spend it all at once, one wonders just when the euro-zone will split apart.
Iain's twitter is informative, witty and interesting.
Contrast with Tim Montgomerie - what a pompous, boring, self regarding sod, please someone, arrange a date for the boy with some Tory totty.
It will push up the abysmal turnout for council elections which is to the good. It may also lead to some spillover to the council elections of the anti-EU feeling which gets UKIP elected to Brussels. This is unfair to councillors but may work to the Conservative advantage & LibDim disadvantage. Might pay to keep reminding of the Labour/LibDim manifesto promises of a referendum.
Alternately the majority of people in Britain might decofe they like the EU by then ;-)
All I can say is PHEW!!
Us activists will only lose one month of our free time and not two.
It will also mean the Council candidates will get help from the Euro candidates and vice versa. First and last time but every little helps!!!
It will also mean less allowances / overtime / bonus for the extremely hard-working and conscientious council employees!!!
Whilst on the subject, ban ALL postal votes except upon presentation of a Doctor's Certificate, holiday booking form or employers endorsement.
If you can't be bothered to get off your backside and vote, you have no right to moan!
S.T.
as the first commentor writes there are lessons to be learned from scotland. interesting move when you consider recomendations given to the scottish government that elections should be de-coupled to avoid the voting fiascos and voter confusion. you will recall how douglas alexander devised a cunning plan for our elections last year when parly and council votes took place on the same day during the introduction of STV for our council elections for the first time. didnt think they would touch duel elections again but here we are...
Just sounds like a way of indirect EUssr acceptability.
Common Purpose will not give up, why do you think the dark one is back.
Well thats if the great Bottler allows it.
He might do a "Jack McConnell" finding similar ways to avoid any elections at all!
Well its reassuring me from this to find i'm not the only one who thinks the complete opposite of the first poster...
My gut instinct is this means that Brown is keeping June 4th open as an option for going to the country...i think Brown has been buyoed by his mini-bounce in the heartlands and fancies his chances of building on that from now...he's basically hoping the economy will look better (unlikely) and he will be able to bask in the summer sun....
Of course it will all depend but I think this in no way rules out a 2009 poll...
"The trouble is that in the current climate, few would believe it even if it were true."
So what?
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