The general election campaign is proving more interesting than predicted. The opinion polls still point to a sizeable majority for Tony Blair on May 5. But thus far the campaign has not looked like the stately procession to a third Labour term it seemed only a few months ago. Mr Blair's party has seemed hesitant and defensive. Michael Howard's Conservatives have borrowed heavily from the Republicans in the US and the Liberal party in Australia to fight a different kind of election. Familiar dividing lines between right and left are being redrawn as Mr Howard seeks to trump prosperity with the politics of insecurity.

Britain has been accustomed to elections fought on the battlegrounds of the economy, unemployment, health and education, tax, law and order and the rest. Until Mr Blair's victory in 1997, Labour sold social idealism, the Conservatives economic efficiency. Most of the time the Conservatives won. There is still some of the same flavour in the present election. Mr Blair touts Labour's record in improving the health service and investing in an education system "to serve the many not the few". Mr Howard promises a smaller state and a cut in personal taxes.