UK News 08-04-2005 who: Tony Blair what: Calls general election for May 5th where: Downing Street, LONDON when: Tuesday snippet: "All three party leaders started campaigning across the country immediately," says The Guardian. "The prime minister flew by helicopter to Labour`s most marginal constituency in South Dorset, while Charles Kennedy appeared in Newcastle - where the Lib Dems last year took control of the council, and Michael Howard went to Birmingham." On wednesday, Mr Blair hinted that Gordon Brown would remain in charge of the Treasury should Labour win a third term when he called his rival "probably the most successful British chancellor in 100 years". Meanwhile, the Conservatives are struggling to overcome allegations by sacked MP Howard Flight that they are not being up-front about the amount of public spending cuts they would make were they to be elected next month. A Populus poll for The Times, published on Friday, shows "Labour remains ahead on the key issues of most concern to voters, apart from immigration and asylum, where the Tories have a ten-point lead". Results of a YouGov survey published by The Mirror reveal that 76% of voters believe the Conservative Party is "divided" but 75% do not trust Labour to improve public services. [... more]

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