By the summer of 1978 the situation in Ulster had calmed somewhat. The number of dead had dropped to less than 50, a sad figure of course but compared to the triple digits of the last few years it was a considerable achievement.
In a cabinet meeting just before parliament rose for the summer break Callaghan decided on an October election. He stated that the decision was a close one but the (temporary) stability of the economy was decisive.
Mason was satisfied. He was against the Lib-Lab pact and thought a strong labour government would be able to continue the economic recovery. In terms of Ulster it meant that there would have to be no reliance on either the SDLP or UUP.
In a cabinet meeting just before parliament rose for the summer break Callaghan decided on an October election. He stated that the decision was a close one but the (temporary) stability of the economy was decisive.
Mason was satisfied. He was against the Lib-Lab pact and thought a strong labour government would be able to continue the economic recovery. In terms of Ulster it meant that there would have to be no reliance on either the SDLP or UUP.