General Election: 05.05.05
That's 05.05.05 for those of you who write dates the US way ;)
A quick overview for anyone who needs it. The General Election is the big one. The four corners of the UK elect our 646 Members of Parliament (MPs) to the lower House of Parliament (the Commons) using the first-past-the-post system. The Queen asks the Leader (by convention only, I believe) of the party with a majority of seats in the House to form the next government. That party then remains in power until whoever is serving as Prime Minister (internal party matter, cf Thatcher's Downfall) calls another General Election in not more than five years time.
In essence, we have to vote for (or against!) the local schmucks, and Blair, Howard and Kennedy have to prance around the country and our TV screens, trying to make us think otherwise.
My Prediction: Obviously a Labour (Blair) win by less than his previous two, but I'll have to sniff the air a little before giving any numbers. Turnout will be very interesting.the game is afoot
A quick overview for anyone who needs it. The General Election is the big one. The four corners of the UK elect our 646 Members of Parliament (MPs) to the lower House of Parliament (the Commons) using the first-past-the-post system. The Queen asks the Leader (by convention only, I believe) of the party with a majority of seats in the House to form the next government. That party then remains in power until whoever is serving as Prime Minister (internal party matter, cf Thatcher's Downfall) calls another General Election in not more than five years time.
In essence, we have to vote for (or against!) the local schmucks, and Blair, Howard and Kennedy have to prance around the country and our TV screens, trying to make us think otherwise.
My Prediction: Obviously a Labour (Blair) win by less than his previous two, but I'll have to sniff the air a little before giving any numbers. Turnout will be very interesting.the game is afoot