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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Brown 'not ruling out snap poll' | Brown 'not ruling out snap poll' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has refused to rule out a snap general election, insisting he is simply "getting on with job". | Gordon Brown has refused to rule out a snap general election, insisting he is simply "getting on with job". |
| The prime minister told BBC One's Sunday AM there was "speculation all the time" but "my focus is entirely on the issues affecting the country". | The prime minister told BBC One's Sunday AM there was "speculation all the time" but "my focus is entirely on the issues affecting the country". |
| Mr Brown's comments come as the Labour Party gathers in Bournemouth for its annual conference. | Mr Brown's comments come as the Labour Party gathers in Bournemouth for its annual conference. |
| He said he would be unveiling new policies, including plans to transform the NHS into a "personalised" service. | He said he would be unveiling new policies, including plans to transform the NHS into a "personalised" service. |
| On Saturday, Labour's election co-ordinator Douglas Alexander said the party was ready for a general election whenever Mr Brown chose to call one. | On Saturday, Labour's election co-ordinator Douglas Alexander said the party was ready for a general election whenever Mr Brown chose to call one. |
| Recent opinion polls suggest the party is in a strong position, with an ICM poll for the Sunday Mirror giving Labour a six-point lead over the Conservatives. | Recent opinion polls suggest the party is in a strong position, with an ICM poll for the Sunday Mirror giving Labour a six-point lead over the Conservatives. |
| 'Clear choice' | 'Clear choice' |
| The poll of 1,029 adults, carried out by phone on 19 and 20 September, gave Labour the same lead as a previous ICM/Sunday Mirror poll in August. | The poll of 1,029 adults, carried out by phone on 19 and 20 September, gave Labour the same lead as a previous ICM/Sunday Mirror poll in August. |
| In addition to medals and honours and parades, we've got to show financially that we reward them [the armed forces] properly Gordon Brown class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6999392.stm">Brown's guessing game class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7467&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| According to the Observer, Labour is ready to call an election as late as November. Speculation had previously centred on 25 October - the last possible date before the clocks go back. | According to the Observer, Labour is ready to call an election as late as November. Speculation had previously centred on 25 October - the last possible date before the clocks go back. |
| Asked by the BBC's Andrew Marr whether all his advisers were telling him to call an early election, Mr Brown said: "No. I'm actually getting on with the job." | Asked by the BBC's Andrew Marr whether all his advisers were telling him to call an early election, Mr Brown said: "No. I'm actually getting on with the job." |
| Challenged that he could end speculation by ruling out an early poll, Mr Brown replied: "There's been speculation all the time but I think people know that over these summer months I just got on with the job." | Challenged that he could end speculation by ruling out an early poll, Mr Brown replied: "There's been speculation all the time but I think people know that over these summer months I just got on with the job." |
| But he added that "when the time comes" voters would face a "clear choice". | But he added that "when the time comes" voters would face a "clear choice". |
| "I think the choice is pretty clear between a government that is determined at all times to maintain the stability and growth of the British economy - and I think we have proved over these last 10 years we can do it and will continue to do so - as against an opposition which, I detect, wants to cut taxes, raise spending, cut borrowing, put the stability of the economy at risk." | "I think the choice is pretty clear between a government that is determined at all times to maintain the stability and growth of the British economy - and I think we have proved over these last 10 years we can do it and will continue to do so - as against an opposition which, I detect, wants to cut taxes, raise spending, cut borrowing, put the stability of the economy at risk." |
| 'Clean hospitals' | 'Clean hospitals' |
| On public services, Mr Brown said Labour wanted to create "a health service that is not just accessible to all, but is personal to each of us". | On public services, Mr Brown said Labour wanted to create "a health service that is not just accessible to all, but is personal to each of us". |
| This big, gimmicky initiative [Labour plans to 'deep clean' hospitals] unfortunately tells us everything that is wrong with a centralised system Vince Cable,Lib Dem deputy leader Hospital bug battle pledged NHS patients should be able to get the GP they wanted and be able to attend a clean hospital at the time they wanted, he said. | This big, gimmicky initiative [Labour plans to 'deep clean' hospitals] unfortunately tells us everything that is wrong with a centralised system Vince Cable,Lib Dem deputy leader Hospital bug battle pledged NHS patients should be able to get the GP they wanted and be able to attend a clean hospital at the time they wanted, he said. |
| On the Northern Rock banking crisis, Mr Brown rejected suggestions the government had known early on about its problems but had failed to act in time to prevent a run on the bank. | On the Northern Rock banking crisis, Mr Brown rejected suggestions the government had known early on about its problems but had failed to act in time to prevent a run on the bank. |
| He described Mervyn King as a "brilliant" Governor of the Bank of England, but declined to discuss whether he would be reappointed when his five-year term of office came to an end next year. | He described Mervyn King as a "brilliant" Governor of the Bank of England, but declined to discuss whether he would be reappointed when his five-year term of office came to an end next year. |
| Turning to foreign policy, the prime minister said Britain would increasingly take an "over watch" role in Iraq as the country's own security forces took charge. | Turning to foreign policy, the prime minister said Britain would increasingly take an "over watch" role in Iraq as the country's own security forces took charge. |
| Zimbabwe sanctions | Zimbabwe sanctions |
| He denied the Americans had been disappointed by his decision to withdraw British troops from Basra Palace. | He denied the Americans had been disappointed by his decision to withdraw British troops from Basra Palace. |
| "General Petraeus had said that British troops were doing exactly what he hoped would be possible in other parts of the world," Mr Brown told Sunday AM. | "General Petraeus had said that British troops were doing exactly what he hoped would be possible in other parts of the world," Mr Brown told Sunday AM. |
| Mr Brown also acknowledged that more could be done to show appreciation to soldiers who have served overseas. | Mr Brown also acknowledged that more could be done to show appreciation to soldiers who have served overseas. |
| "In addition to medals and honours and parades, we've got to show financially that we reward them properly. | "In addition to medals and honours and parades, we've got to show financially that we reward them properly. |
| "That's why we've introduced this allowance for being on duty which is essentially to defray any income tax that they would have to pay. That's why we continue to look at more that we can do." | "That's why we've introduced this allowance for being on duty which is essentially to defray any income tax that they would have to pay. That's why we continue to look at more that we can do." |
| On Zimbabwe the prime minister said: "We are prepared and are considering stepping up our sanctions." | On Zimbabwe the prime minister said: "We are prepared and are considering stepping up our sanctions." |
| He said this should be done in combination with the European Union. | He said this should be done in combination with the European Union. |
| 'Gimmicky initiative' | 'Gimmicky initiative' |
| The government earlier announced a "deep clean" of all NHS hospitals in England, to tackle the spread of infections such as "superbug" MRSA. | The government earlier announced a "deep clean" of all NHS hospitals in England, to tackle the spread of infections such as "superbug" MRSA. |
| Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable said Labour's centralised approach was not the best way to tackle the "superbug" problem. | Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable said Labour's centralised approach was not the best way to tackle the "superbug" problem. |
| "This big, gimmicky initiative unfortunately tells us everything that is wrong with a centralised system," Mr Cable told BBC News 24. | "This big, gimmicky initiative unfortunately tells us everything that is wrong with a centralised system," Mr Cable told BBC News 24. |
| Asked about a snap election, Mr Cable said he thought there was a "strong likelihood" Mr Brown would go to the country next month. | Asked about a snap election, Mr Cable said he thought there was a "strong likelihood" Mr Brown would go to the country next month. |