The phoney war is over.

Premier Dr. Ewart Brown's decision to call the long-awaited General Election just hours after Acting Governor Mark Capes delivered the Throne Speech means that voters will now have the chance to deliver their own statement on the Island's political parties.

Dr. Brown's decision, while presumably not lightly taken, represents something of a gamble. His Government's defeat in the Privy Council over further publication of details of the investigation in the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal opens his campaign up to the risk of further revelations coming out.

At the same time, there is clearly rising unease within the Progressive Labour Party about his leadership, and this election call can be seen as a bid to silence the doubters and to pull the party together, at least for the term of the election.

Indeed, Dr. Brown runs the risk of losing his leadership if the PLP either loses outright or is returned with a reduced majority. It was at least implicit when he ousted Alex Scott that he was better suited than his predecessor to keeping the PLP in power, and he promised to demolish the United Bermuda Party as well.

The last few months have not been entirely happy ones for his administration as, aside from the ongoing legal battles he has with the media, some doubts have been thrown on the real strength of the tourism recovery, criticisms have been levelled over the reporting of high school graduation statistics, and Dr. Brown's own personal popularity seems to have fallen in the last six months.

The last point is important, because much of the PLP's pre-election campaigning has portrayed him as the "main man", to the exclusion of other Ministers and MPs.

But it is also true that he retains a core group of supporters who are dedicated to him, and just how much influence they have within and without the PLP may be telling.

Dr. Brown has also scheduled an unusually long election campaign of some six-and-a-half weeks. This carries its own rewards and risks. It may put some space between the election and the Privy Council defeat and it will also enable most overseas students to return home and vote. But it leaves the Government – and the Opposition – to a long period of scrutiny and could lead to election fatigue.

Yesterday's Throne Speech, which may or may not be enacted now, gives some pointers to what the PLP will emphasise in its platform. Clearly, a strong economy and buoyant tax revenues form the foundation from which a good deal of money can be spent.

Free tuition at the Bermuda College, interest free down payment loans for 500 families, further housing construction and some pension improvements all suggest there are more handouts to come. It was also good to see a heightened commitment to the environment, given the Government's poor record in that area, while tougher standards for schools will also be emphasised.

It is also worth noting what was not in the throne Speech, notably no mention of the Workplace Equity Act or the Goodwill Plus (Sven and Johnny) initiative. It is not clear whether those ideas will be avoided in a campaign as being too controversial, or if they will come out in the campaign.

For the United Bermuda Party, it is fairly clear that it too will focus on education, housing and added support for the elderly.

What is also likely is that it will zero in on Dr. Brown himself, both in terms of his alleged connections to the BHC scandal and the ensuing efforts to gag the media but also to the style of leadership that he has brought.

It is to be hoped that as this long campaign wears on, that the candidates will have a strong and honest debate on the issues and the calibre of the candidates. Perhaps even more importantly, it is to be hoped that it will be fought cleanly, without deteriorating into mudslinging and the kind of racial attacks that have marred past elections.