This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6974814.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Labour dismisses election reports | Labour dismisses election reports |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Labour Party's election coordinator Douglas Alexander has dismissed reports that Gordon Brown could announce a snap election this week. | |
| He told BBC News 24's Sunday programme the speculation was "nonsense". | He told BBC News 24's Sunday programme the speculation was "nonsense". |
| Mr Alexander said he had read stories about the Conservatives planning a poster campaign with "incredulity". | Mr Alexander said he had read stories about the Conservatives planning a poster campaign with "incredulity". |
| He would not rule out an election this year but said an election would not be announced in the "next two, three, four, five or six days". | He would not rule out an election this year but said an election would not be announced in the "next two, three, four, five or six days". |
| Prepared | Prepared |
| Mr Alexander, who is also international development secretary, has just returned from Afghanistan. | |
| He said: "If the election coordinator was in Afghanistan last week it's not very likely we'll announce an election this week. | He said: "If the election coordinator was in Afghanistan last week it's not very likely we'll announce an election this week. |
| I will make sure we are ready whenever the starting gun is fired Douglas Alexander,Labour's election coordinator | I will make sure we are ready whenever the starting gun is fired Douglas Alexander,Labour's election coordinator |
| "The claim that the Conservatives made that we are announcing an election this week, it's no surprise, is nonsense." | "The claim that the Conservatives made that we are announcing an election this week, it's no surprise, is nonsense." |
| Mr Alexander emphasised his party would be prepared for an election whenever Prime Minister Gordon Brown decided the time was right. | Mr Alexander emphasised his party would be prepared for an election whenever Prime Minister Gordon Brown decided the time was right. |
| He said: "My job is to make sure our campaign, our party, is ready, whenever the prime minister decides to go to the country. | He said: "My job is to make sure our campaign, our party, is ready, whenever the prime minister decides to go to the country. |
| Gordon Brown, if he calls that election, is in for the fight of his life William Hague, Shadow foreign secretary | Gordon Brown, if he calls that election, is in for the fight of his life William Hague, Shadow foreign secretary |
| "I will make sure we are ready whenever the starting gun is fired." | "I will make sure we are ready whenever the starting gun is fired." |
| He said the reports about an election had been put out by the Conservatives "to mask their own difficulties". | He said the reports about an election had been put out by the Conservatives "to mask their own difficulties". |
| He said: "There's a genuine power struggle taking place within the Conservative campaign. | He said: "There's a genuine power struggle taking place within the Conservative campaign. |
| "David Cameron did have a political strategy, he's been knocked off that strategy by the success of Gordon Brown." | "David Cameron did have a political strategy, he's been knocked off that strategy by the success of Gordon Brown." |
| Speaking to Sky News, shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "It is our job to be ready for a general election. | Speaking to Sky News, shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "It is our job to be ready for a general election. |
| "We would like to see a general election and for this country to get the change of government it really needs. We are ready for it. | "We would like to see a general election and for this country to get the change of government it really needs. We are ready for it. |
| "Gordon Brown, if he calls that election, is in for the fight of his life." | "Gordon Brown, if he calls that election, is in for the fight of his life." |