Last Thursday's Council and EC Elections make it clear that people want the chance, as soon as possible, to elect a Government at the ballot box. So we need an early General Election.
But not an immediate one as any election before some stability at Westminster has been regained (a new Speaker -in June), and the "expenses issue" calmed down would be a referendum on MPs' expenses not a decision on on the future Government's programme.
That's no basis on which to elect a Government for the next five years. It would be bad for the country and bad for the new Government.
There are important decisions to be made at this General Election and a highly-charged emotional vote on Expenses is no way to do it (I have no doubt that the electorate will want, in some seats, to cast judgement on some MPs but that's different from having the whole Election being hijacked by this single issue).
The Prime Minister, whoever he or she is, will need to reassure that his/her Government will be a 'caretaker' administration and the press and public that there really will be an Election as soons as a measure of stability is acheived.