UK Election

Guide Note

In September and October of 2007 British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was inundated by criticism regarding speculation of a possible snap election. Brown's political opposition claimed that the decision against holding elections was made to preserve the majority of the Labour Party in parliament, and not in the best interest of government.

Fast Facts

1. Conservatives led the Labour Party by 6% in marginal seats
2. According to polls, the Labor Party would have lost 20 seats and the majority
3. Gordon Brown is a member of the Labor Party
4. Quote:

• "The Prime Minister has shown great weakness and indecision and it is quite clear he has not been focused on running the country these last few months. He has been trying to spin his way into a general election campaign and now has had to make this humiliating retreat."¹
  • — David Cameron, The Guardian

On October 6, 2007, Brown announced that there would be no elections. Brown claimed that while there were a number of issues that warranted a poll of the governments competence, the government had responded well to the crises of Foot-and-Mouth, floods and terrorism. Brown also expressed that an election would distract government from what he considered more pressing issues of housing, healthcare and education.¹