So now we know. It's June 7. But is this an auspicious day for Tony Blair? CHRIS TITLEY looks at the omens.

IN March 1997, John Major sparked one of the longest election campaigns of the century by announcing that Britain would go to the polls on May 1. An ominous choice, said commentators, with one eye on the opinion polls: May 1 is Labour Day.

And so it proved. Labour swept to victory. Remember Tony Blair's first day in power? It was all warm sunshine, handshakes in Downing Street, a new dawn, Cool Britannia, one Britain living in harmony with itself.

Since then we've had the wettest year since Noah, slow hand claps at the WI, a return to sleaze, Britain becoming the world's leper and town and countryside at each other's throats.

Nevertheless, Tony still commands a big lead in the opinion polls. Desperate to convert that into an historic second Labour term, he wanted to go for another May election.

But May 3 has been ruled out by foot and mouth, and so he has had to postpone the ballot until June 7. That is the new date of the local elections, and, barring an invasion from outer space, will also be General Election day.

Part of the Prime Minister's fondness for the May date is said to be superstitious, all bound up with the last victory, family birthdays and the like.

So no doubt he has been looking at the omens for June 7. And they contain mixed news for Downing Street. Old Moore's Almanack ("making vague predictions since 1697") forecasts that there would be election fever in April. Cleverly, however, it didn't say in which country.

As for June, "the Full Moon on the 6th falls in an exact conjunction with Pluto" resulting in possible "scandals coming to light concerning the disposal of nuclear waste and the sales of plutonium". Mercifully for the PM, it looks like these will only break after we go to the polls.

More portentously, perhaps, June 7 was the day Louis XIV was crowned King of France, in 1654. Now here is a role model our Tony can really relate to.

One of history's most stylish despots, Louis Le Grand also "remains the symbol of absolute monarchy" according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Throw in the Palace of Versailles as your living quarters (Peter Mandelson would love it) and we have finally found a historical role model worthy of Britain's own Sun King.

Other historical precedents are not so happy, however. Robert the Bruce died at Carcross on June 7 1379, so the volatile Scottish electorate may be in nationalistic mood as they go to the polls.

June 7 was also a bad day for the British Empire. In 1775, the United Colonies changed its name to the United States (that'll never catch on, they said). A mere 164 years later, and King George VI became the first British monarch to visit the US. Thus our mammoth sulk at the loss of the States was forced to end when the war made us somewhat in need of friends.

Neither does June 7 hold great memories for the modern Labour Party. On that day 25 years ago Chancellor Dennis Healey was forced to accept loans from ten nations of £3,000 million to support the pound, which was in freefall. The thought would be enough to give prudent Gordon Brown palpitations.

Other anniversaries on this date might make New Labour feel a little happier. It will be the 33rd birthday of pocket-sized popster Prince. Now he knows one or two things about changing your name and still being successful.

Preceding Prince by 18 years is the voice of the valleys, Tom Jones, born on June 7 1940. He could certainly give the PM some tips (and possibly some surgical supports) to help him keep his youthful appeal.

The date also marks the death of author and wit Dorothy Parker. She said: "This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown aside with great force." A quip that William Hague might yet adapt for New Labour's manifesto...

Updated: 10:45 Wednesday, April 04, 2001