Gordon Brown's latest relaunch: The election starts here

From The Economist print edition The policies that will pave the way for next spring’s contest THERE are few trustier gambits in the Brownite playbook than the set-piece parliamentary announcement. As chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown supplemented the annual budget with a pre-budget report and a biennial spending review. These opportunities to set the terms of debate, and to stage carefully prepared appearances rather than have to think and communicate on his feet, continue to enthuse him as prime minister. The latest example, a preview of the government’s legislative agenda on June 29th, doubled up as the unofficial start of the general-election campaign. Mr Brown’s bills will be fully itemised later this year in the Queen’s Speech, another government-managed exhibition in Parliament. But most of the policies he plans... [read full story]                    

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