Time for a General Election

Although Gordon Brown was on reasonable form today at Prime Minister's Questions he certainly had to be to cope with the storm that is raging around him.

The Westminster village loves the chatter on who's up and who's down but the crisis in the cabinet and the crisis in the parliament on expenses has created a massive policy and leadership vacuum.

Issues like GM motors, the ongoing failure of the banks to lend, the growing levels of unemployment and the many serious European issues have been left on the sidelines by the Government.

The Government will be hamstrung by its internal disputes and parliament by the expenses scandal until we have the cleansing process of a general election.

That's why I'll be joining my colleagues in the aye lobby next week on a motion of no confidence in the Government.

And I would argue that many Labour MPs will be tempted by the thought of an election too. Many have simply had enough, can't see any way forward for this government and want to take their chances with the voters.

Let's get on with it.

Whil