Next general election 'is set for May 6,2010'

摘要

The date of the next general election is set to be May 6, 2010 - assuming the Government serves its full five-year term - according to electoral experts this week. All three recent general elections in May 1997, June 2001 and May 2005 have coincided with local elections. Assuming there is not a successful leadership challenge to Gordon Brown in the next few weeks, which could precipitate a spring 2009 general election, he is expected to announce a May 6, 2010 date to coincide with local elections. David Monks, chief executive of Huntingdonshire and chair of the SOLACE electoral matters panel, said a general election costs ￡90m to run and to coincide with local elections both reduces costs and helps boost turnout. There are also expectations that next year's local elections will be moved from 7 May to 4 July to coincide with the European parliamentary elections. Last month, the CLG ended consultation on plans to move the local elections date and is due to announce its conclusions shortly. If, as anticipated, it opts for a single election day for European and local elections in 2009, an Order will be passed through Parliament in November. Mr Monks said: 'The word on the street is the local election date will be moved to June.'