PLOTTING:

Blair calls election for May 5 (Matthew Tempest, April 5, 2005, Guardian Unlimited)

Tony Blair today called the general election for May 5 after visiting the Queen in Buckingham Palace to ask for the dissolution of parliament.

Returning to Downing Street before hitting the campaign trail, the prime minister said the election would be "a big choice, a big decision". "The British people are the boss and they will make it," he added.

All three party leaders started campaigning across the country immediately. [...]

Labour goes into the fight for votes on the back of a quartet of unexpectedly close polls today. All four showed Labour's lead slipping, although it is still ahead by between two and five per cent.

The Guardian/ICM poll shows Labour's lead down by three points, with the party backed by 37% of the electorate, the Tories on 34% and the Liberal Democrats on 21%. Downing Street confirmed parliament would be dissolved on Monday next week.

The new parliament will meet on Wednesday May 11, when the first business will be the election of the Speaker and the swearing-in of members. The state opening will be on Tuesday May 17.

In his early launch speech, seemingly timed in an attempt to steal the PM's thunder, Mr Howard told the country: "Mr Blair's government has lost the plot."

But are the Tories ready to resume the plot, which they lost when they sacked Margaret Thatcher?

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 5, 2005 12:19 PM