Poll apart

So when will the general election be? If history repeats itself, put your money on April 10. That is the week when the Political Studies Association holds its annual meeting at the University of Ulster - five years to the week since the PSA was last in Northern Ireland and John Major gained his surprise mandate. Could be bad news for the bon viveurs. The putative polling day coincides with a conference excursion, leaving them with the choice between going home to vote or taking up places on the trip to the Bushmills Distillery.