The World at One

Welcome to the World at One's special election section. This page will be updated with election results and analysis after 1300BST on Friday, June 8.

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Friday, 8 June 2001 - Election Result

Tony, Cherie and Leo, back at No10 again

After a strangely passionless campaign, it was a red-blooded Westminster morning. Before the champagne bottles had been cleared away from Labour's celebration party, William Hague appeared outside Conservative Central Office - and to the consternation of many in his party, he fell on his sword.

For Tony Blair, this election has been - in his words - "a mandate and instruction to deliver on promised reforms". When he returned to Downing Street from the Palace, he spoke of the enormous privilege and honour of being trusted with the Government of the country again.

But it's the Liberal Democrats who've laid claim to the title of "effective opposition" in the next term: and though Charles Kennedy would never be drawn on it during the campaign, it's clear that for the most part they will oppose from the left.

 John Redwood, Stephen Dorrell and Michael Heseltine on the Tory leadership race

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Thursday, 7 June 2001 - Day Zero

The nation goes to the polls - the World at One has an election free programme.

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Wednesday, 6 June 2001 - 1 DAY TO GO

The time is nigh - voting day tomorrow

Are you well enough informed to cast your vote? For the past four weeks you've been bombarded with facts and figures, bathed in warm words, and sometimes bamboozled with claim and counter-claim.

One of the very curious things about this campaign is the number of questions that haven't been answered - from the environment to transport, to those familiar issues like the euro, and taxation.

Can anyone be clear about what the next four to five years will bring? In this programme we try to find out.

 Matthew Taylor, Alistair Darling and Andrew Lansley discussion

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Tuesday, 5 June 2001 - 2 DAYS TO GO

Thatcherism lives on

One unexpected feature of this election campaign has been the prominence of Margaret Thatcher, both her physical presence and her political ideas.

Tony Blair and Charles Kennedy have both expressed their willingness to accept some of her ideology.

Where does this leave the Conservatives? How can they define themselves if the Left accepts their heroine's beliefs?

 Conservative Spokesman David Willetts on the legacy of Thatcherism

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Monday, 4 June 2001 - 3 DAYS TO GO

One horse race: Bookies have already declared Labour the victor

Opinion pollsters, bookies and even the Tories seem to believe Labour will win the election with a landslide.

And Labour has dismissed the latest Tory poster campaign urging voters to "burst Blair's bubble", suggesting the Tories favour a low turnout.

Is a landslide inevitable? What will this mean for democracy?

 Lib Dem Lord Razzall and Labour's Douglas Alexander discuss Tory warnings of a Labour landslide

 Former Tory select committee chairman David Davis: The Labour government has demonstrated little respect for parliament

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Friday, 1 June 2001

Each Friday during the election campaign we hosted a special online discussion with our panel of commentators on the week's key events.

Today's discussion - chaired by Nick Clarke - included: Sean O'Grady, leader writer on the Independent, Janet Daley, columnist at the Daily Telegraph, and Evening Standard political correspondent Patrick Hennessy.

 Click here to watch the webcast - on demand

Also, why are Lady Thatcher and Tory leader William Hague now warning of a Labour landslide? Have the Tories conceded defeat?

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Thursday 31 May 2001

David Trimble: IRA statement 'It might have something do to with an election'

The World at One travelled to Belfast for a view of the election campaign in Northern Ireland - where the issue of IRA weapons has come to the fore again.

The IRA made their own contribution to the election campaign with a message saying that it had honoured agreements and held four meetings with the decommissioning group led by General de Chastelain.

Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble said he saw no substance in the IRA's statement.

DAY 23:
 David Trimble: I don't see any substance in the IRA's statement

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Wednesday 30th May 2001

Burstow: the state should do more

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to introduce state payment for all personal and nursing care, in line with the recommendations of the Sutherland report and with their ambitions in Scotland.

Labour and the Tories say richer pensioners should pay for non-medical care if they have the means.

Lib Dem Pensions spokesman Paul Burstow told the World at One the system at the moment is unfair.

DAY 22:
 Burstow: all care should be free

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Tuesday 29th May 2001

John Monks: 'The days have long gone when it was labour versus capital'

Tony Blair launched Labour's business manifesto in the city today, promising economic stability and a partnership between government and the commercial world.

But whatever happened to Labour's traditional core constituency, 'the workers'?

We speak to critics on the left, trade unionists and Labour's Trade and Industry spokesman Stephen Byers.

DAY 21:
 Labour will continue driving the social justice agenda

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Monday 28th May 2001

Maude: campaign must not be rigged

The Tories today called for clarity on a future referendum on the euro and claimed the implementation of the single currency would cost £36 billion.

The claims came as a group of businessmen backed the single currency and the founder of the UKIP proclaimed he would back the Tories.

The World at One spoke to Conservative Foreign Affairs spokesman Francis Maude.

DAY 20:
 Francis Maude on the euro

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Friday 25th May 2001

Theresa May: Parents must play their part in ensuring their children behave at school

Children burning cars because teacher-shortages have meant the cancellation of their lessons provide a powerful piece of television imagery.

But was the Conservative election broadcast justified? We ask Tory education spokeswoman Theresa May.

DAY 17:
 Theresa May defends Tory election broadcasts

And the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have criticised negative campaigning. We ask the Bishop of Hereford which party Christians should be voting for.

 John Oliver: "People have to work out for themselves which party is most likely to deliver"

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Thursday 24th May 2001

In Scotland the type of issues facing voters in a General Election are significantly different to those in England or even Wales.

The extent of devolution in Scotland means the Westminster Parliament has a limited effect on the lives of Scots.

The World at One spoke to Labour's Brian Wilson, Roseanna Cunningham of the SNP, Conservative Annabel Goldie, and Malcolm Bruce for the Liberal Democrats.

DAY 16:
 Discussion on the election in Scotland

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Wednesday 23rd May 2001

The issue of 'Europe' finally entered the campaign fray for real today, after Lady Thatcher - still referred to in 'Mrs' terms - weighed in with her 'Never' to the single currency-speech last night.

But it was not only William Hague who was trying to hold a coherent line on matters European. Labour too were boxing off what they called "smears" in the form of a leaked EU document showing, apparently, plans to harmonise taxation.

This came on top of more unwelcome news showing the level of the euro falling against the Pound yet more. Given, that exchange rate levels do not constituting one of Gordon Brown's Five Key Tests, the World at One asked Alastair Darling whether the Government would take into account the sustainability of exchange rates when deciding whether to recommend entry.

DAY 15:
 Social Security Secretary Alastair Darling: Would Labour include exchange rates in its assessment of the euro?

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Tuesday 22nd May 2001

Labour's general secretary Margaret McDonagh wrote to broadcasters with her criticisms

The Labour Party has failed to provide any evidence to support its charge that broadcasters spurred voters to harangue politicians on the campaign trail.

Meanwhile as foot-and-mouth disease resurfaces - this time in North Yorkshire - farmers accuse the authorities of failing to remain vigilant.

We ask whether the government has been too keen to restore a sense of normality ahead of the election.

DAY 14:
 The Bishop of Bradford, David Smith: The party machines are now rolling smoothly and politicians aren't listening to farmers

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Monday 21st May 2001

The City of London is divided in its political loyalties

The Conservatives today published their business manifesto as 144 business people wrote to the Telegraph expressing support for the Tories.

Labour hit back, saying the Tory spending and tax plans will not provide a stable economy for business. Its own supporters had written to the press last week.

The World at One spoke to a businessman from each side: Labour Sir Christopher Evans, chairman of Merlyn Scientific and Conservative Lord Bell, chairman of Bell Pottinger Public Relations.

DAY 13:
 Discussion: which party is best for business?

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Friday 18th May

Ann Widdecombe says Tory asylum policies will save the country money

William Hague has taken his campaign to Dover to promise a tougher system for dealing with asylum applications.

The Liberal Democrats call the proposals "inhumane" and Labour claim they are tackling the problem.

We scrutinise the Conservative plans - and speak to shadow spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe.

DAY TEN:
 Ann Widdecombe: "This scheme produces net savings of quite an order"

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Thursday 17th May

Direct action - better than voting?

Heckling, throwing eggs, accosting politicians - is direct action better than voting at getting the public's voice to politicians?

The World at One discussed apathy and antipathy with Lib Dem Lord Razzall, Conservative Tim Collins and Labour's Margaret Beckett.

DAY NINE:
 Are politicians out of touch?

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Wednesday 16th May

Labour claim their public service ambitions are 'radical'

Tony Blair launches the Labour party manifesto - it promises to maintain economic stability, and to carry out radical improvements in public services.

We ask the Labour Social Security spokesman, Alistair Darling, what happens after three years of the next Parliament, when the budget surplus runs out.

DAY EIGHT:
 Alastair Darling on how the party plans to fund increased public spending

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Tuesday 15th May

Shirley Williams: Endorsed Charles Kennedy's "small price for a big benefit" tax rise

As the Liberal Democrats publish their manifesto we ask: 'Whatever happened to the big "Liberal" ideas?'

Baroness Williams tells us that it is true radicalism, given a context dominated by tax rows, to believe the electorate would pay more for better public services.

DAY SEVEN:
 Lib Dem peer Baroness Williams on the party's manifesto

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Monday 14th May

Tim Collins: official Tory tax cut figure is £8bn

Confusion over the scale of Conservative tax cuts persists: would they be as high as £20bn? And would they raise taxes if necessary?

Nick Clarke spoke to Tim Collins, senior vice-chairman of the Conservative Party, in an effort to clarify their position.

DAY SIX:
 Tim Collins: Tory tax proposals are straightforward

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Friday 11th May

Less tax, more spending - can it be done?

The Conservatives brush off claims that their spending plans are in disarray while claiming that Labour will have to raise taxes to implement theirs.

DAY THREE:
 Shadow Chancellor Michael Portillo insists that Tory spending plans are workable

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Thursday 10th May

Hague and Ffion at Thursday's launch

The Conservatives launch their election manifesto "Time for Common Sense". with the theme that "people should be free to make their own choices and free to live their own lives."

DAY TWO:
 Shadow Social Security Secretary David Willetts argue that fuel duties are "an unfair tax"

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Wednesday 9th May

Gordon 'Prudence' Brown

Labour attempts to set the agenda with the Chancellor Gordon Brown outlining the government's economic manifesto. He denies on the World at One that he will raise taxes.

DAY ONE:
 Chancellor Gordon Brown defends Labour's economic record

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Tuesday 8th May

As the election is called for 7th June, The World at One hosts the election's first debate between the three main political parties on the issues of the coming election and their party agendas.

DAY ZERO:
 Stephen Byers, Andrew Lansley, Matthew Taylor debate the forthcoming election

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Radio 4's lunchtime news round-up is presented by Nick Clarke. It goes out every weekday at 1300 GMT.