Election off the agenda but may open the door for Blunkett's return

it is now strongly presumed by those closest to Gordon Brown that - against the wishes of an anxious and increasingly bellicose David Cameron, who on 9 December called for an early election as the Tories dropped below 40 per cent in one poll for the first time since April - the next election will take place in 2010.

says James Macintyre over at New Statesman.

Does this insight spell the end of June 2009 speculation?

According to James so much so that any talk of ballot papers is

the "new taboo" in Downing Street, where to discuss or even mention a date for the next general election has become strictly forbidden.

However as one door closes,it will mean that there is time for one more reshuffle next summer and the speculation is for the return of David Blunkett

One senior Downing Street source predicted that Blunkett - whose socially conservative but economically radical politics fit the new mood at large in the government and the country - would make a return to the front line next year, either in a summer reshuffle or earlier, if an opportunity arises. "He'll get a job the next time there is any movement," said the source, who indicated the role may not be in the cabinet but would be operational, with Blunkett helping to revive Labour on the ground in the north of England, industrial towns and white working-class areas that need to be won back.