Peter Riddell wrote in the Times yesterday that "He conceded in his Governance of Britain Green Paper only three months ago that the power over the election date gives “the prime minister significant control over Parliament”. He then proposed creating a new convention so that a prime minister “is required to seek the approval of the House of Commons before asking the monarch for a dissolution”. This change has not yet been agreed, but will Mr Brown honour its spirit next week by holding a debate before seeing the Queen?" What do you think? Of course he won't, Gordon Brown makes Tony Blair look straight and that is saying a lot.
I also like Peter Riddell's fantasy about what the Queen might say to Gordon should he ask for a dissolution of Parliament, “I am sorry, Mr Brown, but I cannot agree to a dissolution and a general election. The present Parliament is still less than half way through its five-year life. You said last spring that a new prime minister did not need to go to the country and you command a good working majority in the House of Commons. So I am afraid you will have to wait.”
Read the rest of the article here. I stopped buying the Times and Sunday Times because of Rupert Murdoch's move to make the paper a complete supporter of Tony Blair's government and because of the paper's lack of criticism of the Chinese government. I may have to read more of its columnists work on line from now on, I had forgotten how much I used to enjoy journalism such as Peter Riddell's.
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