Originally Posted by Damien

I don't think he did it for that reason. The threat had died down after the local election because acceptance of their fate had taken hold.

More likely is the suggestion he called it because he thought this was as good as it would get with the inflation figures and price cap coming down, but looking to rise again as we head into autumn.

The reason for the chaos is probably as simple as him being politically incompetent. You don't need a well-organised plan to look outside to see if it's raining, to know it's a bad idea to go to the Titanic Quarter and give the journalists the obvious lines or that it looks like a panic to go into hiding 3 days into the campaign.

The only other explanation is he is trying to throw the election.