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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Labour 'warns of early election' | Labour 'warns of early election' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Labour chairman Hazel Blears has urged activists to prepare for a general election "which may be less than 16 months away". | Labour chairman Hazel Blears has urged activists to prepare for a general election "which may be less than 16 months away". |
| A letter warns of "real challenges", including a change of party leader - widely expected to be Chancellor Gordon Brown - and a Tory "comeback". | A letter warns of "real challenges", including a change of party leader - widely expected to be Chancellor Gordon Brown - and a Tory "comeback". |
| An election in spring 2008 would come two years before the government has to go to the polls again. | An election in spring 2008 would come two years before the government has to go to the polls again. |
| The Conservatives said the "sooner" an election was held "the better". | The Conservatives said the "sooner" an election was held "the better". |
| The Liberal Democrats said they were "ready and waiting" for an election. | |
| 'Tory comeback' | |
| Tony Blair is expected to stand down as prime minister before next autumn, with Mr Brown, the chancellor, favourite to succeed him. | Tony Blair is expected to stand down as prime minister before next autumn, with Mr Brown, the chancellor, favourite to succeed him. |
| Ms Blears' letter, written on Labour-headed notepaper, says: "In the New Year we face real challenges, the election of a new leader, local elections and the need to prepare for the forthcoming general election, which may be less than 16 months away." | Ms Blears' letter, written on Labour-headed notepaper, says: "In the New Year we face real challenges, the election of a new leader, local elections and the need to prepare for the forthcoming general election, which may be less than 16 months away." |
| She adds: "The Tories are making a comeback, the next general election will not be easy. | She adds: "The Tories are making a comeback, the next general election will not be easy. |
| "A swing against Labour of just 1.3% could see the Tories forming the next government." | "A swing against Labour of just 1.3% could see the Tories forming the next government." |
| A general election does not have to be called until 2010 - five years after the last one. | A general election does not have to be called until 2010 - five years after the last one. |
| 'Ready' | |
| A Conservative Party spokesman said: "If people want change, they will have to vote for it. | A Conservative Party spokesman said: "If people want change, they will have to vote for it. |
| "The sooner they get to vote on Blair and Brown's hospital cuts, failing schools and destroyed pensions the better." | "The sooner they get to vote on Blair and Brown's hospital cuts, failing schools and destroyed pensions the better." |
| Giving his reaction, Liberal Democrat campaigns chief Edward Davey said: "We are ready and waiting, and so are the British people. | |
| "They deserve to deliver a verdict on Gordon Brown¿s abject failure in areas like the health service and the environment. | |
| "We all want a chance to have a proper debate with the man who has signed all the cheques for the Iraq war." |