So, the election campaign begins...as if it hadn't already

It's been widely reported this evening that Gordon Brown will officially announce the election for May 6th during tomorrow. I was amused by one newscaster who claimed that "the parties will begin their campaigns" after said announcement. Good Lord, I thought, So what it is it they have been doing all this time? Pre-campaigning, perhaps? In truth, politics is one long campaign, is it not? After all, the primary aim of any political party is to form a government, and I think it's safe to say that "Dave" Cameron did not go into politics to be Leader of the Opposition.

The election is essentially a choice between Labour and "Dave", in other words, a metaphorical rock and hard place. There is really very little to choose between the two parties apart from some minor detail in policy and posturing - it seems likely that the Tories will promote their leader and push their chancellor into the background, whereas Labour will, if they have any sense, do something akin to the opposite. Whatever happens, we are set for a month of even more heightened political speculation, spin and swagger than usual, and in Westminster that is saying a lot.

Although, as the title of this blog might have already given away, I would dearly love to see a Lib Dem government (even in coalition), I realise it's nigh on impossible; even to a staunch liberal such as I, "Nick Clegg PM" is not exactly an appealing prospect. It is Vince Cable I would prefer to see in a Cabinet role; call it bizarre if you like but I simply cannot fathom why anyone would prefer to have a person educated in Modern History (Osborne) or Law (Darling) running their economy over one with a doctorate in Economics (the aforementioned Cable). The recent Chancellors Debate broadcast on Channel 4 showed just how much more competent Cable appears than his rivals - even if Clegg cannot say the same about himself.

Therefore, as a not-quite-independent observer but certainly one whose party will not win the election for itself but for a coalition partner, it will be interesting to watch the progression of the campaigns. I do not claim to be impartial - I am certainly more of a Labour voter than a Tory, if one can be partially either thing - but as it is essentially the Tories' to lose I am starting from my usual position of abject despondency. If I expect the Conservatives to win, I cannot be disappointed. After all, in the words of a certain election campaign past, "Things can only get better".