Under starter's orders for the election

Smart money is still on a general election being held on 5 May but, until Tony Blair exercises his prerogative to ask for a solution of parliament, nobody will know for certain.

The election run-up is a strange period. The machinery of government grinds on relentlessly despite the heightened excitement of its political masters. Relatively non-controversial matters continue without hindrance.

Work on the more controversial topics will stop, however, unless the appropriate legislation has already been safely passed by parliament, so some of the hopes of tougher action against uninsured driving might be carefully parked until after the election because they form part of a series of politically controversial crime bills.

Many might think that the result of an election this year will be the re-election of a Labour government and, therefore, will take little interest in the election battle. It might be worth having a look through the manifestos, however, especially that of Labour.

Insurance does not often feature prominently, but issues that affect the industry do. Law reform is certain to figure as fears of an emerging compensation culture have already attracted the attention of senior politicians.

With the Clementi Report on the future of the legal profession hovering in the wings, this is an area that will demand attention.

Regulation, of course, will feature. It should have been no surprise to anyone when Labour arrived in office in 1997 and announced the creation of the Financial Services Authority, as it was in their manifesto. The shock was that so few people in the financial services sector had bothered to read it. They made themselves look foolish by fighting a manifesto pledge of a newly elected government with such a huge majority.

There will almost certainly be plenty about housing development - especially where and how it should be done. With John Prescott seemingly determined to press ahead with ideas about building on the Thames flood plain, this debate will catch the insurance industry in its wake. So far, it has been very cautious in its response but there will soon come a point when it will have to say whether or not it will insure properties in the proposed huge development alongside the Thames Estuary. It may find the election will bring that moment of decision rather closer.

- David Worsfold, Secretary, All Party Group on Insurance.