Sly Ronnie

Didn't do him much good, did it?

I was thinking along similar lines over the weekend. As a tactic to see off any rebellion, Sunak could announce the date of the election for such and such, even if it is months in advance. There would be no prorogation, Parliament would continue business as normal until dissolution.

And there was me naively thinking that postal votes benefit the Tories.

What the public want may not neccesarily be what they get, knowing this lot! That said, I'm of the thinking now that the GE will be shade before my initial prediction - 3rd/10th October. We'll have the summer recess, no need to recall Parliament, 5 week campaign.

TBF most governnents tend to hang on to the bitter end when the going gets tough. Labour's last term in office lasted almost the whole of the parliament, with the election 5 years and a day after the last in 2005. Of course the Tories are old hands at this, with parliaments virtually running out in 1964 and 1997.

Loved him in the part of Graeme Souness in Auf Weidersehen, Pet. RIP.

If this is true, then the election is most likely to be in the Autumn.

Apparently the "Gaza" candidate for the West Midlands, Akhmed Yakoob won over 40K votes, so Labour would have won more comfortably.

It also brings to an the end the worst bet in recorded history. I wagered a small sum on Birmingham finishing in the top three - each way bet, back in August. Don't judge me.

Khan wins. 43.7% to Hall's 32.6%.

So far... Khan 48.6%, Hall 26.5%. Not very close is it?

When will we know the result in London?

It is to avoid 1995-style catastrophes and the Tories losing 2000 seats in a single night whick looks really bad. Having less results and then in turn having them thinly spread out over several days would make it less impactful.

Word to the wise at the BBC when it comes to the forthcoming GE: I think it is fairly established now that we are in the 21st Century, so you can knock off the "20" and call it "Election '24". Saves time.

The Curse of Dad's Army © Daily Mirror C.1987 strikes again!

Looking at the State of Parties page on the Parliament website reminded me of reading a book on General Elections ages ago and it showed Parliament at dissolution in 1970. I was shocked at how low Labour's total of MPs were, seeing as they coasted to victory in 1966. They had 348 MPs, thus losing 16 to by-elections etc. Very similar numbers to the Tories today.

They should neve have got relegated last season IMO.

He hasn't been totally with it since about 1976.

Perhaps it is fair to say the one on the left is a C, for Conservative?

One other future event to consider is the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which is taking place in Samoa from October 21st to October 25th. The PM, whoever it will be, will be expected to attend. Would be awkward to do this during an election campaign.

In 2001 during the election campaign, Deputy Labour Leader John Prescott once punched a voter in the face. The Labour Party won the election with a majority of 167.

Wont last the year, unfortunately.