“This is an election about Britain’s future, a fight for your future, and for your jobs. If it’s all about style and PR, count me out. If it’s about the big decisions, if it’s about judgment, it’s delivering a better future for this country, I’m your man.”
Gordon Brown, second leaders’ debate opening speech, April 22nd 2010
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Impressive sentiment. So, let’s skip forward two days. Here’s what David Cameron has been up to this morning:
Mr Cameron’s key proposal was that anyone taking over as PM following the death, overthrow or resignation of the previous incumbent would have to call an election within six months.
A new PM would be free to request a dissolution at any time during the six-month period, which would allow time for him or her to appoint a ministerial team and set out a programme for government and for Parliament to deal with any outstanding business, under the plans.
“It means putting the people in charge, I believe you should be in Number 10 because people have voted for you,” he said.
Mr Cameron also unveiled plans to provide state funding for 200 all-postal primaries to select parliamentary candidates across the country over the course of the next Parliament at a total cost of about £8m.
Interesting new proposal. Quite substantial in fact. So, I wonder what substantial things Gordon ‘I do not believe politics should be about celebrity’ Brown has been doing today?
Gordon Brown has attacked Conservative NHS plans – and been joined by an Elvis impersonator – as he sought to “up the tempo” of Labour’s election campaign.
He urged voters to “look at the small print” of Tory health policy, at a rally in Corby in front of supporters.
In a shift from normal campaign format he and wife Sarah were then joined by the Elvis singing “The Wonder of You”.
Right. Well, I guess we can count Gordon out, then. To be honest, though, I’d done that already.

Is Dave afraid of being defenestrated by his backbenchers?
While its a nice idea, I think it is already too difficult to remove a sitting PM, and any extra barriers (such as the threat of an unwanted general election) would make it even worse.
Tony Blair, let’s remember, should have been defenestrated about 5 years before he actually stood down.
Joe Otten
April 24, 2010 at 4:27 pm