Lib Dems prepare for snap election

Paul Rowen MP

The Liberal Democrats are preparing for a snap Spring election after leader Nick Clegg met with the party's chief officers, his shadow cabinet and parliamentary colleagues last week.

Reports coming from Rochdale MP Paul Rowen's office suggest they too believe an election could be imminent and are fully prepared for whenever Gordon Brown decides the time is right.

“Whilst it is clear from the raft of Government announcements that a General Election may be imminent, it is business as usual for Paul Rowen and Rochdale Liberal Democrats," said agent Dave Hennigan.

"Paul Rowen has a deserved reputation as someone who works all year round and not just at election time for the people of Rochdale. Whilst a recent poll in a national newspaper showed that our hard work is being rewarded in Rochdale with a predicted victory, we take nothing for granted and will continue to put Rochdale first even if a General Election is not called."

Heywood and Middleton MP Jim Dobbin said he was ready for an election whenever it may fall. "We are always ready, our preparations have been in place since May 2005," he said.

"We work for our constituents 365 days a year and not just in the six weeks of an election period."

Simon Danczuk, Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, is hoping the election will come soon. He said: “The sooner the General Election is called the better for Rochdale people; they need strong political leadership, which they’re not currently getting from Mr Rowen.

"As for Paul Rowen’s prediction that he’ll retain the seat, he’s being very presumptuous, the highly respected opinion polling website, Electoral Calculus, is predicting a majority of nearly 5% to Simon Danczuk for Labour in Rochdale.”

Thursday 30 April is the most likely date for an election if Gordon Brown does decide to go to the polls in the Spring.

Paul Rowen said he disagreed with the fact that the Prime Minister could call an election whenever he felt it best suited him. "It’s no wonder that people distrust the democracy of this country when a Prime Minister can pick and choose when to go to the polls," he said. 

"Surely it’s in the best interests of a stable Government that we know exactly when a General Election will be called instead of the self-interested whims of the ruling party.”

The budget and the G20 summit on 2 April are factors that could trigger a General Election.