THOUGH the words might be different, John Major draws on Harold Macmillan's message of a generation before, telling the voters: "You've never had it so good."

Indeed, the Prime Minister may be right. Economic recovery has been in place longer than most voters appreciate - and the prospects may well be the best since 1945.

Certainly, Mr Major is right to be upbeat on the economy. It is the Tories' only real ace in the coming election.

But the trouble is, if voters do give Conservatives credit for it, they do the same for the tough times beforehand - which they still remember all too well.

And though he may declare that he would "relish" an election campaign, Mr Major is plainly doing all he can - against the perilous background of a Commons minority and a war of attrition at Westminster over Tory "cheating" - to delay the election to the last possible date so that the memory of the bad times fade.

It will be a real test of strength for him.

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