James Forsyth James Forsyth

From coalition to chaos – get ready for the age of indecision

Whichever major party loses, its leader will go, and no one will be keen on another vote any time soon

issue 13 December 2014

A recent email from Samantha Cameron started an intriguing debate in the Prime Minister’s social circle. It was an invitation to a Christmas party at Chequers and word quickly spread on the Notting Hill grapevine that the PM was convening an unusually large gathering of friends at his country retreat. So, the guests wondered: were they being asked around because the Camerons were having a last hurrah at Chequers, sensing that they would be evicted by the electorate? Or was the bash being thrown because they were in celebratory mood, convinced that the political tide has turned their way?

This confusion is understandable. We might only be three months away from the start of the election campaign but only a fool would predict the result with much confidence. Not since 1923, when Ramsay MacDonald became Labour’s first Prime Minister despite the Tories winning the most seats and votes, has there been a British general election which has been so hard to call.

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