The latest opinion poll in Britain showing the opposition Conservatives six points ahead of the ruling Labour party has raised the possibility of a hung parliament with no one party having an overall majority and a return to the kind of political uncertainty not seen since the 1970s.

Kenneth Clarke, the Conservatives' business spokesman, said earlier this month that a hung parliament at this point in the economic cycle would be a disaster, an assertion his boss David Cameron was quick to try to play down after the latest survey.

The fact is that a landslide Conservative victory, which at one point had appeared inevitable with polls showing Cameron's party 20 points ahead, now looks far less likely after Prime Minister Gordon Brown's best opinion poll showing in almost a year.

The Ipsos MORI survey in the Observer newspaper showed Labour on 31 percent, the Conservatives on 37 percent and the Liberal Democrats on 17 percent. The last British election to deliver a hung parliament was called in February 1974 by Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath. His decision to call a snap poll in the face of labour unrest and economic turmoil disastrously backfired. A second election in October 1974 allowed Labour's Harold Wilson to turn a minority government into a small working majority.

The fresh glimmer of hope for Labour came against a backdrop of confidence in economic recovery, a Labour by-election victory and signs the Conservatives were struggling to win over floating voters. Labour, in power since 1997, has suffered from the longest recession on record, a scandal over lawmakers' expenses and military losses in Afghanistan. A general election must be held by June 3. 

"I do think that in the middle of an acute national crisis a hung parliament would be one of the biggest disasters we could suffer ... that would be a bigger danger than a Labour victory," said Clarke, one of the heavyweights of the Conservative party and a former finance minister.

"Fear of City Turmoil if Election Delivers Hung Parliament," was the Daily Telegraph headline prompted by Clarke's comments over an article that referred to the "potentially devastating effect such a result could have on the financial markets at a time when the economy is on a life-support machine."

Asked whether he agreed with Clarke, Cameron told the BBC: "Not really, no. Ken has his own way of explaining these things. I think frankly anything is better than another five years of this Labour government." He added: "I am working night and day not for a hung parliament, but for a majority government."

Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, which may hold sway in a hung parliament as the second main opposition party, commented after the latest poll: "It's a great thing that we're going to have a major debate where a lot is at stake."

What causes the greatest concern is the potential impact on the bond market, where the British government borrows by selling gilts, wrote Andrew Porter in the Telegraph. "A stalemate at Westminster could see market confidence drain away completely, leaving the U.K. facing a buyers' strike as no one is prepared to buy gilts. After that, the only place to go is the International Monetary Fund."

Do you think Britain is heading for a hung parliament? Would this undermine British economic recovery and what would be the consequences? Are critics of a hung parliament simply not used to a coalition government in Britain where a hung parliament is a rarity?

We’ll be covering live the Edelman debate on social media and UK politics.

This is a busy week for the British National Party (BNP).

Today it was warned to stop using military imagery in its campaign material. A group of former military leaders accused the BNP, which has used photographs of spitfire fighter planes and Winston Churchill, of hijacking Britain's history for their own "dubious ends."

The distinguished generals said this tarnished the reputation of the armed forces and called on them to "cease and desist."

Meanwhile, the BNP's membership list has been leaked again. The names and addresses of thousands of members was posted on Wikileaks, a website that allows information to be published anonymously. BNP leader Nick Griffin said the list was a "malicious forgery."

Most controversially of all, Griffin is scheduled to appear on BBC's Question Time this Thursday evening. The decision to give the BNP a seat on the panel has angered some people, who feel they should not be given a platform to air their extreme views on issues such as immigration.

However, despite calls from Welsh Secretary Peter Hain to have Griffin dropped on the grounds that the party “is not lawfully constituted”, Director General Mark Thompson defended the BBC position of due impartiality. He said: "If there were to be any election –- local or national –- tomorrow, the BNP would still be able to field candidates.”

Do you think the BNP should be stopped from using military imagery to promote its policies? Is there a danger the armed forces will be tainted by this association with the far-right? Do you agree with the BBC's decision to invite Nick Griffin to appear on Question Time?

Question Time will be broadcast on BBC1 at 10.35pm this Thursday and we will be live blogging throughout the programme.

Do you have a question you would like to ask Chancellor Alistair Darling? Now is your chance.

At 1:30pm British time on Wednesday, October 21, Reuters is hosting an exclusive Web 2.0 interview with Darling and we want you to send us your questions to put to the top man from the Treasury.

From the crippling global recession to the debate over bankers’ bonuses, it has been a tumultuous year at Number 11 Downing Street. You may want to quiz the Chancellor on one of these topics, ask him about the government’s plans to prevent another downturn or how Labour plan to defy the polls and win the upcoming general election.

During the interview we will put as many of your questions as possible to the Chancellor and will be running a liveblog of the event, much like we did during this social media interview with Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.

Leave your question in the comments box below or via Twitter (using #askdarling) and join us on Wednesday for our Web 2.0 interview with the Chancellor.

The largest review of primary schooling in England for 40 years has said children at five are too young to start formal education and that six would be a more suitable age.

The Cambridge University study says play-based learning should go on for another year. Making children start school so young was a throwback to the Victorian age when the factories wanted them to start early so they could finish early and get working on the production line sooner.

Only Wales, Scotland and the Netherlands start children off at school so early, it noted. Schooling starts at the age of six in 20 out of 34 European countries, with eight nations, including Sweden, waiting until children are seven.

The government disagrees.  "A school starting age of six would be completely counter-productive," says Schools Minister Vernon Coaker. "We want to make sure children are playing and learning from an early age and to give parents the choice for their child to start in the September following their fourth birthday. "

What do you think? Is five too young?

-Member of Parliament Stephen Timms is the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. The opinions expressed are his own.-

I’m heading to Brighton to join colleagues from across Government, the Parliamentary Labour Party and grass roots Party members from across the country.

Exhibitors, media teams and lobbyists make up the remainder of those who attend the Labour conference each year. I’m especially grateful to the hotel staff, volunteers and police officers whose services ensure this event runs smoothly and safelty.

The conference brings the Labour movement together.  Delegates can question Ministers face to face, offer suggestions and explore policy options.  Ideas discussed on the conference floor or in fringe meetings may find their way into a White Paper or manifesto pledge.

Every Conference is unique but this year will highlight key decisions facing the country.  We need to remember where we were a year ago.  Lehman’s had collapsed, credit was drying up, major banks threatened, with the world facing its biggest economic crisis for over 60 years.

Bold decisions since then have had a clear effect, with signs the economy is beginning to recover.  Due to decisive action taken by the Government and the Bank of England, up to 500,000 jobs have been saved.  Labour delegates, however, will demand we continue to provide more help for people to get back to work.

Alistair Darling has been at the forefront of these historic decisions.  On Monday, he will speak about our commitment to cut the deficit in half over four years. On recovery and growth, he will argue it must be delivered through targeted and sustainable low-carbon investment.

Gordon Brown will speak to Conference on Tuesday. His action has helped guide both the UK and other G20 nations during this crisis. So he will now set out plans for a post-crisis society.

In education and health, he will say that reforms must ensure high standards are a guarantee and not a gamble. On family life, he will say affordable childcare and care for the elderly will be protected.

Of course Party Conference is about policy - but its also about politics. Delegates will highlight the risk the Conservatives represent. Their proposed immediate, and ideologically driven, £5 billion cuts will threaten our fragile recovery. Meanwhile, the same ideology offers a £200,000 giveaway to the 3,000 wealthiest estates.

Labour however will fight hard for ordinary working people. We will, on their behalf, tackle crime and the fear of crime. The Tories talk tough on crime but they would weaken the use of DNA evidence and make cuts to the Home Office budget equivalent to 3,500 fewer police.

That kind of change is risky change and will not be acceptable to delegates or ordinary voters. Conference this week gives Labour the opportunity to set out its vision for a post-crisis recovery, while highlighting how the Tories would put it all at risk.

Political leaders gathered in Dublin to debate both sides of the controversial Lisbon Treaty and the implications it could have on the future of Europe.

The panel consisted of Micheál Martin, Ireland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nigel Farage MEP, leader of UKIP, Mary-Lou McDonald, Deputy President of Sinn Fein and David Begg, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Watch the debate on the player below.