One of the many flaws with the UK political system is that the ruling party decides when an election will be held. Other countries have a definite timetable so that election dates are known decades in advance. But here in the UK the ruling party gets to decide and usually gives only 3 weeks' notice. This means that they privately pencil in the date and then skew their policy announcements and spending plans to build up the good news, and jerk the economy so everything turns right just in time for the election. Meanwhile, the opposition parties move their troops up to the front line as they anticipate the election announcement.

All us poor plebs, who actually have to vote, know is that the ruling party gets a maximum 5 years in power and then, by gentlemen's agreement (this is the UK after all), they announce an election. But they may not. Or they may announce an election after 3 or 4 years. What all this means is uncertainty and dithering. We're in this Phony War stage at the moment. Everyone is expecting an election in May but our beloved leader, His Holier Than Thou-ness Tony Blair hasn't told us yet. When he's finished scratching his arse, consorting with his rich friends, slobbering over George Bush, and killing people in Iraq, we might actually get the chance to vote the pillock out.

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"US soldiers in Iraq approach a car after opening fire when it failed to stop at a checkpoint. Despite warning shots it continued to drive towards their dusk patrol in Tal Afar on 18 January. Chris Hondros a photographer with Getty News was on hand to record these pictures." [BBC]

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