The U.K. General Election Is Called

Calm Before the Storm
Downing Street gets swept under the watchful eye of a policeman. Shortly afterward, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told his Cabinet of his intent to ask Queen Elizabeth II to dissolve Parliament and call a general election on May 6. After 13 years in power (an election has to be called every five years, and June 2010 was the latest it could take place this time around), Labour enters the election with a notional majority of 48 seats, meaning that a loss of 24 seats would see them lose their overall majority.

• TIME Video with Gordon Brown
• David Cameron: The U.K.'s Next Leader?