Britain prepares for General Election

LONDON — Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday called a long-awaited national election for May 6, launching what is likely to be the most unpredictable ballot in almost two decades. The opposition Conservatives and the third major party, the Liberal Democrats, took immediate aim at Mr. Brown’s controversial leadership qualities, seen by many pundits as a potential liability for the governing Labour Party.

After a final meeting of his cabinet, Mr. Brown drove to Buckingham Palace to ask Queen Elizabeth II to dissolve Parliament — a ceremonial step at the start of a month of hectic and highly personalized campaigning that will decide whether Labour wins a fourth consecutive term in office or is forced to return power to the Conservatives after 13 years.

Read the rest here.