Prime Minister Tony Blair looked pretty relaxed in Sussex last night, as well he could afford to be.

No Prime Minister in modern times has ever entered an election period with such a huge lead in the opinion polls coupled with a buoyant economy.

There are clouds on the political horizon. There always are. They include foot-and-mouth disease spreading across the country and allegations that Foreign Secretary Robin Cook misled the House of Commons.

But they are small compared with those facing poor William Hague as he tries to win back scores of seats for the Tories against big odds.

It would be good for democracy if the result was closer next time. Big majorities lead to complacency and they can even encourage corruption.

A persistent allegation against the Blair Government is that it has bypassed the heart of democracy in the Commons.

But with an election fast approaching, the Prime Minister can afford to be straightforward about economic success and big increases in spending on health and education.

He won't discuss the election date. But he's unlikely to resist the temptation to go to the country while he's ahead.

So many things can go wrong if you hang on, as the last Labour prime minister, James Callaghan, found out in the 1979 winter of discontent.