Ready to rumble
Britain’s political season usually begins with a whimper, as the parties prepare for their predictable, stage-managed seaside conferences. This year’s started with a bang
POLITICIANS like to be noticed. Failing that, they like their absences to be noticed. William Hague mixed the worst of worlds this summer. His presence was noticed when he claimed—without being clear whether this was a confession or a boast—to have binged on 14 pints of beer when he was a lad. His absence was noticed when David Davis, a senior backbencher, accused the Tory leader of missing a chance to keep a faltering Tony Blair on the run during Parliament's recess. And he resumes the political season again lagging far behind in the opinion polls. One analysis last weekend put Labour on 45% (up two percentage points since July), with the Conservatives on 33% (down two) and the Liberal Democrats on 16% (up one).
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Ready to rumble”
From the September 9th 2000 edition
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