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| Why are elections not held in winter? | Why are elections not held in winter? |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers... | WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers... |
| Voter turnout is seasonalWill he or won't he call an election soon? One thing's almost certain, Gordon Brown won't go to the polls between November and February. Why? | Voter turnout is seasonalWill he or won't he call an election soon? One thing's almost certain, Gordon Brown won't go to the polls between November and February. Why? |
| Speculation is mounting over whether Prime Minister Gordon Brown will make a run for the ballot box, buoyed by his popularity in current opinion polls. | Speculation is mounting over whether Prime Minister Gordon Brown will make a run for the ballot box, buoyed by his popularity in current opinion polls. |
| The first available opportunity would be October, failing that political commentators say it could be May. But what about the months in between? | The first available opportunity would be October, failing that political commentators say it could be May. But what about the months in between? |
| THE ANSWER Winter weather and general gloom does not get people out to vote | THE ANSWER Winter weather and general gloom does not get people out to vote |
| An election in March and April is unusual, but holding one during the winter months is a very rare thing indeed. | An election in March and April is unusual, but holding one during the winter months is a very rare thing indeed. |
| It's more than 30 years since voters went to the polls during a winter month. The last time was in 1974 when Ted Heath called an election in February. He lost to Harold Wilson. | |
| Like so many things in Britain, one of the reasons why these months are shunned is the weather. | Like so many things in Britain, one of the reasons why these months are shunned is the weather. |
| Turnout in elections is already an issue and adding cold, wet weather into the mix doesn't traditionally encourage the electorate to go out and vote. | Turnout in elections is already an issue and adding cold, wet weather into the mix doesn't traditionally encourage the electorate to go out and vote. |
| 'Positive frame of mind' | 'Positive frame of mind' |
| The shorter, darker days that are a result of the clocks going back are also an issue for the same reason. | The shorter, darker days that are a result of the clocks going back are also an issue for the same reason. |
| But if turnout is lower, aren't all the parties hit? Apparently not. | But if turnout is lower, aren't all the parties hit? Apparently not. |
| As Brown's advisers would probably point out, statistics show low winter polls tend to disadvantage Labour more. | As Brown's advisers would probably point out, statistics show low winter polls tend to disadvantage Labour more. |
| WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular part of the BBC News Magazine, Who, What, Why? aims to answer some of the questions behind the headlines "Political folklore has it that Labour supporters tend to be working class and vote on their way back from work, before going home for tea," says political commentator Anthony Howard. | WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular part of the BBC News Magazine, Who, What, Why? aims to answer some of the questions behind the headlines "Political folklore has it that Labour supporters tend to be working class and vote on their way back from work, before going home for tea," says political commentator Anthony Howard. |
| "If it's dark or the weather is bad then they are less likely to bother. Tory voters are thought to be more likely to go in their cars and vote during the day, so an election on a miserable winter day is less likely to adversely hit the party." | "If it's dark or the weather is bad then they are less likely to bother. Tory voters are thought to be more likely to go in their cars and vote during the day, so an election on a miserable winter day is less likely to adversely hit the party." |
| The most popular month for an election is now May, says Mr Howard. | The most popular month for an election is now May, says Mr Howard. |
| "There's more likely to be nice weather and people tend to be in a positive frame of mind with summer approaching. Both are good for turnout." | "There's more likely to be nice weather and people tend to be in a positive frame of mind with summer approaching. Both are good for turnout." |
| Certain politicians have been known to favour certain months. June worked well for Margaret Thatcher. Brown take note. | Certain politicians have been known to favour certain months. June worked well for Margaret Thatcher. Brown take note. |