Election News Archive

Tory manifesto 'style over substance'

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the Conservative manifesto had been launched in a power station that "no longer generates power. It's style over substance".

Lib Dems plan 'equity economy'

The Liberal Democrats have launched a five-point plan to deal with the excesses of bankers bonuses.

David Cameron: speech in full

Full text of David Cameron's speech at the launch of the Conservative Party manifesto this morning.

Conservative election manifesto: key points

Following the publication of the Conservative Party manifesto this morning we have picked out some of the key pledges.

Cameron declares 'we are the people'

The Conservatives can make things better without spending any more money, David Cameron said today.

Plaid to support the 'have nots'

Plaid Cymru have launched its election manifesto with the promise to stand up for the "have nots" rather than "haves".

Plaid set out top seven priorities

Today Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones, Wales's deputy first minister unveiled the Plaid Cymru manifesto for the general election.

UKIP launches manifesto

Britain should be "out of the EU but back in the world", according to the UK Independence Party.

Tories to unveil election pitch to voters

The Conservatives will launch their manifesto this morning, with David Cameron seeking to encourage the public to get more involved in running their country.

Queen's Speech scheduled for May 25

Downing Street has confirmed the date of the State Opening and the Queen's speech, as Parliament was dissolved today ahead of the general election.

Bashing banks won't fix the economy

Demonising bankers will not pull Britain out of the economic slump.

Labour's election pitch 'lacks ambition'

The Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties have both attacked the Labour manifesto.

Health and police among key manifesto pledges

Today prime minister Gordon Brown unveiled the Labour party manifesto for the general election.

Brown launches Labour manifesto

Gordon Brown today unveiled Labour's manifesto ahead of the May 6 general election, describing it as having the "great and common purpose of national renewal".

Speech in full: Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown's speech at the launch of Labour's 2010 general election manifesto in Birmingham.

SNP attack election 'phoney war'

The Scottish National Party's leader has accused Labour and the Conservatives of fighting a "phoney war".

Lib Dems propose income tax reform

The Liberal Democrats will raise the income tax threshold to £10,000 if they win power at the election.

Why this election is impossible to predict

May 6 had been pencilled in on the calendars of most political enthusiasts as the general election date ever since Gordon Brown became prime minister.

Labour to set out its election pledges

The Labour party is set to release its general election manifesto later today.

Royal proclamation ends the 'rotten Parliament'

The most discredited parliament of modern times will finally end today with dissolution.

Salmond mourns Westminster's 'extraordinary decline'

A departing MP has said the House of Commons has declined "in an extraordinary fashion over the last two decades".

No new spending plans for Labour

Labour's election co-ordinator Ed Miliband has said that if re-elected they will not make any "big spending commitments".

Tories must win the campaign to take power

Prof Paul Whiteley considers how much of a difference the election campaign is likely to make to the outcome.

Millions of voters missing at this election

It goes right to the heart of our democratic process. It's a scandal in its own right. Voter registration.

General election focus: the North East

The Newcastle Journal's political editor William Green looks at how the North East could hold the key to the election result.

General election focus: Wales

Tomos Livingstone, political editor of The Western Mail, considers the 2010 general election in Wales.

Bland leaders' debates or car crash TV?

Televised leader debates in Britain? First thought, from my brain: please, no, don't go there.

Mischief during detention

Eager to get out on the stump, Austin Mitchell is enlisted for washing-up chores – but gets his revenge by harrying ministers on ports revaluation and voting against the Digital Economy Bill.

Leaving before the end

With ill-health precipitating an early retirement from Westminster, Ian McCartney tells Sam Macrory of his regrets at unfinished business – but also his satisfaction at social crusades won.

A lesson from the 60s?

Chris Moncrieff offers his take on the world of Westminster.

Parliament prorogued ahead of election

The Commons and Lords have passed remaining Bills as the Parliamentary session ends with prorogation.

Adonis appeals to Lib Dem voters

Brown and Cameron 'snub' Newsnight

Brown defends 'love of his life' Sarah's campaigning

Last day in Commons for departing MPs

Parliament closes today for the general election campaign, with many MPs saying their final farewell to the House of Commons.

Clegg accused of hypocrisy over party donations

Focus on reforming 'rotten Parliament'

The three main parties have used the first full day of campaigning to lay out plans for the reform of Parliament.

Placing customer service on the election agenda

Jo Causon, chief executive of the Institute of Customer Service, speaks to ePolitix.com about the Institute's recent conference and the forthcoming general election

Leaders face last PMQs clash

The leaders of the three main parties will clash later today for the last time in the Commons before the general election.

Greens field highest ever no of PPCs

Queen's Speech scheduled for May 26

The new Parliament elected on May 6 will meet for the first time on May 18, it has been confirmed.

Cameron visits Leeds at start of campaign

The Conservative leader David Cameron will visit the Midlands and Yorkshire today at the start of the general election campaign.

Laws: Election must deliver change for the better

David Laws, Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil Constituency, commenting on the news that the Queen has given her permission for a General Election on Thursday 6th May.

Full text: Brown announces general election

The full text of Gordon Brown's statement in Downing Street, announcing the general election.

NUT comment on the General Election

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, comments on the announcement of the general election.

Brown calls May 6 election

Gordon Brown has ended months of speculation by confirming Britain's general election will be held on 6 May, and has said he would fight on the values instilled in him by his parents.

Brown to call May 6 election

Gordon Brown is set to end months of speculation by confirming Britain's general election will be held on 6 May.

'Wash-up' to rush through Bills

An emergency business motion is expected to be put to MPs today to rush through as many as eight Bills in two days before Parliament is dissolved.

A diary of democracy

If, as widely predicted, Gordon Brown makes the trip to the Palace this week, he will trigger a series of events leading to the dissolution of the 2005 Parliament. This will bring an end to a controversial and lately damaging period for British politics, but its true significance won’t be known until historians look back with a proper sense of perspective. From today’s vantage point, in what may be the final week of this Parliament, here are The House Magazine’s picks of the political events which shaped the last five years.

Second bite of the cherry

Paul Keetch had already resolved to stand down as an MP before suffering a major heart attack, but is now more eager than ever to carve out a new career in his 50s.

Here’s hoping for a hot hustings

Chris Moncrieff offers his take on the world of Westminster.

ePolitix.com and the general election

With the election underway, ePolitix.com's plans for the coming weeks are confirmed.

Five weeks until likely election day

Gordon Brown will host German chancellor Angela Merkel at Chequers today as the pair hold talks on Afghanistan, nuclear proliferation and the economy.

Cameron: 'I'm ready to be PM'

Celtic 'alliance' targets hung Parliament

The nationalist parties joined forces this morning to demand a "fair funding deal" for Scotland and Wales.

Parliament may not return for three weeks after election

Gordon Brown could stay on as prime minister after the election, even if Labour fails to secure most seats.

Cable 'received too much applause'

Parliament may not return for three weeks after election

Gordon Brown could stay on as prime minister after the election, even if Labour fails to secure most seats.

Blair backs Brown in Labour rallying call

Tony Blair has hailed the leadership of Gordon Brown, praising him for his handling of the economic crisis and his "experience, judgement and boldness".

Narrow polls foretell dull debates

If last night's chancellors' debate is anything to go by, the forthcoming clashes between Brown, Cameron and Clegg are likely to be exercises in little more than damage limitation.

Rules of hung Parliament 'not understood'

Greater clarity is needed over how the country would be governed in the immediate aftermath of an election if voters returned a Parliament of no overall control, MPs have said.

Darling, Osborne and Cable take centre stage

George Osborne will today unveil plans to partially reverse Labour's planned increase in National Insurance, ahead of tonight's televised 'chancellors debate'.

The glory days of the election battlebus

Howls of protest erupted from newsdesks around the land when they discovered how much it will cost them to send hacks on the party leaders' battlebuses.

Exit interview

With a ministerial career beckoning, Paul Goodman surprised many with his decision to leave Westminster – but an age of professionalised politics does not entice.

Hermon quits UUP to stand as independent

The Ulster Unionist Party's only MP has quit the party and announced she will stand as an independent at the general election.