Campaign begins for most unpredictable UK election in years
JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister David Cameron paid a courtesy call on Queen Elizabeth II, then launched a most uncourteous attack on his main political rival as campaigning formally began Monday in the most unpredictable U.K. election in decades.

The royal audience — possibly Cameron's last as prime minister — came as Britain's Parliament was officially dissolved ahead of the May 7 vote.

Polls, bookmakers and politics-watchers say the election is too close to call, and no party is expected to win a majority of seats in the House of Commons.

Some form of coalition government is likely, and smaller parties — such as the Scottish and Welsh nationalists, the Greens and the anti-Europeans — could hold the balance of power.

"This is the most unpredictable election we have seen in our lifetimes," said Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-Europe U.K. Independence Party, which is currently running third in popular support. "All bets are off."

While issues such as the European Union and immigration will play a big role in the campaign, both Cameron's Conservatives and their main opposition, the Labour Party, are focusing their pitches on the economy.

Cameron said a Labour victory would bring "economic chaos" and threaten Britain's recovery from the Great Recession.

"Debt will rise and jobs will be lost as a result," he said.

Speaking outside his 10 Downing St. office after meeting the queen at Buckingham Palace, Cameron said when he took office in 2010, "Britain was on the brink."

Now, he said, "Britain is back on her feet again," and growing faster than other G-7 economies.

But Labour leader Ed Miliband argued that for many voters, that recovery "feels like it's happening to someone else, somewhere else." He kicked off campaigning with a speech aimed at reassuring business that Labour won't increase tax and red tape.

And he called the Conservatives' vow to hold a referendum on whether Britain should leave the 28-nation EU a "clear and present danger" to British businesses.

Britain's electoral system means only Labour or the Conservatives, as the country's two biggest parties, can hope to lead the next government.

But voters are defecting in droves to alternatives, including the pro-independence Scottish National Party and UKIP, which wants to leave the EU and impose tough controls on immigration.

UKIP, which has just two lawmakers of 650 in the House of Commons, launched its campaign with a photo-call near Parliament. It unveiled five election promises, including exiting the EU and cutting foreign aid spending.

Farage called foreign aid "a waste of money" and said the funds would be used instead to cut the deficit and strengthen the armed forces.

Cameron's visit to the palace was a courtesy, since this election ends the historic practice of prime ministers asking the monarch to dissolve Parliament. That is now done automatically. The same law set election dates to be the first Thursday in May every five years, unless the government loses a confidence vote in Parliament.
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Associated Press writer Gregory Katz contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-03-31

My prediction is that a bunch of wealthy people who've never lived and worked in the real world nor worked outside of politics will end up running the country.

Pretty much the same as every other election in the last 20 years or so.

strange how the most unproductive part of society is so important to the economy.

I suspect that the reason minor parties are springing up is the disconnection most voters feel with the established parties. They are so finely tuned by spinners and so risk averse that they talk in 30second sound bites for the ever present cameras. Any attempt to explain something complex will be ignored or else a small piece of it will be excised and blown up into a scandal. Most of their candidates have no experience in the real world. They leave Uni and work for a party, a business lobby group or a union. The newspapers are now so partisan (particularly those run by my former countryman Rupe, "The Demon of Delaware" (that is where he minimises his tax, at least). If the major parties went back to believing in and explaining policies, to the electorate, not just to their financiers, more people might vote for them.

My prediction is that a bunch of wealthy people who've never lived and worked in the real world nor worked outside of politics will end up running the country.

Pretty much the same as every other election in the last 20 years or so.

Same old hacks well a slightly different mix. Your right on the money in your first statement. These people are only front men for big business. We are caught in a revolving trap. Pick your poison.

Won't matter much who wins. At least some hope and entertainment with Nigel Farage.

Out of the EU and stopping immigration should be top priority.

No outright winner, SNP will probably ally with the Labour party who will bend down for the big one.

UKIP a handful of seats.

David Cameron insists the country is on the right track

Whatever the result, the pound will keep going down against the baht. Best result, Conservatives, propped up by UKIP will create uncertainty in business over the in/out referendum (out, I hope). Nightmare result, Labour controlled by SNP, pound falls through the floor and I end up living off sticky rice and pla ra.

Very frightening prospect of a Labour/SNP coalition right now.

My prediction is that a bunch of wealthy people who've never lived and worked in the real world nor worked outside of politics will end up running the country.

Pretty much the same as every other election in the last 20 years or so.

and every other country in the EU....well the PM of Austria worked as Taxi Driver, didn't finish University, can't find his proof that he did high school and has 7 years in his life which are complete unaccounted.

I doubt any politician in UK can top that......

Ed Millaban is the best thing that has ever happened to the Labour Party.

He is a brilliant Leader of the Labour Party.

Ed Millaban is the best thing that has ever happened to the Labour Party.

He is a brilliant Leader of the Labour Party.

So long as he keeps Labour out of government, I wholeheartedly agree.