Both parties are trying to 'lose' in a hung parliament

[Gonzo]

Actually, in a hung parliament the sitting PM remains in post until it is proven that someone else can form a workable majority, alone or in partnership with another party. We don't lose Gay Gorgon just becuiase he lost the election - which is a bit of a depressing thought...

Imagine that.

A Prime Minister who was not appointed by a public vote, was not endorsed by a public vote and who could not be removed by a public vote.

[Gonzo]

I never considered that Brown would try and engineer a tory minority government, but it makes sense for him.

While it is a nice idea for a moment, practically, I don't think that it is possible for anyone to engineer a general election result to that degree of precision.

[centurian]

If there's ever an election worth losing, then this one is it...

[centurian]

While it is a nice idea for a moment, practically, I don't think that it is possible for anyone to engineer a general election result to that degree of precision.

Agreed, but whether by intention or not, the Tories are certainly heading in that direction

[TimberWolf]

It would be interesting to speculate what would happen if Gordon won the election outright, without a hung parliament, as unlikely as that is. What would happen to Sterling (immediate crash?), would he implement the savage cuts that many believe believe are necessary? Would we soon be doomed? And given the position we are in, would it be much better under the Tories?

[OwlHoot]

It would be interesting to speculate what would happen if Gordon won the election outright, without a hung parliament, as unlikely as that is. What would happen to Sterling (immediate crash?), would he implement the savage cuts that many believe believe are necessary? Would we soon be doomed? And given the position we are in, would it be much better under the Tories?

He'd appoint Ed Balls as chancellor, and there'd be a run on sterling within days, no wait, within _a_ day.

[TimberWolf]

He'd appoint Ed Balls as chancellor, and there'd be a run on sterling within days, no wait, within _a_ day.

I'm not so certain a run on Sterling won't happen sooner than that. Mind you, I'm a bit jumpy because most of my savings are still in £ in a UK bank.

[Gonzo]

It would be interesting to speculate what would happen if Gordon won the election outright, without a hung parliament, as unlikely as that is. What would happen to Sterling (immediate crash?), would he implement the savage cuts that many believe believe are necessary? Would we soon be doomed? And given the position we are in, would it be much better under the Tories?

He would have to.

It will be a condition of borrowing money from the IMF once the financial markets no longer support the government deficit.

The same thing happened to Callaghan / Healey in the seventies.

[Waldorf]

He'd appoint Ed Balls as chancellor, and there'd be a run on sterling within days, no wait, within _a_ day.

WHS

[TimberWolf]

I can't imagine that any government has been handed such a poisoned chalice before. Not just because of how bad things are likely to become reality shortly after election and after the phony recession ends, but because I don't feel the population appreciate that. Most people think the recession is over, I feel.