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/7025447.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Poll delay 'would be cowardice' | Poll delay 'would be cowardice' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown will show "political cowardice" if he does not call a snap general election, William Hague says. | Gordon Brown will show "political cowardice" if he does not call a snap general election, William Hague says. |
| The ex-Tory leader told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that a delay would mean Labour feared it could not win even during Mr Brown's "honeymoon period". | The ex-Tory leader told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that a delay would mean Labour feared it could not win even during Mr Brown's "honeymoon period". |
| The prime minister has refused to rule out holding an election this autumn. | The prime minister has refused to rule out holding an election this autumn. |
| But senior Tory MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind has said a poll so soon after Mr Brown took power would amount to a "constitutional outrage". | |
| The prime minister has until 2010 to call an election, but positive showings in recent opinion polls have prompted speculation he might do so this autumn - probably in November. | The prime minister has until 2010 to call an election, but positive showings in recent opinion polls have prompted speculation he might do so this autumn - probably in November. |
| The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats both say they are ready for a contest. | The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats both say they are ready for a contest. |
| 'Dithering'? | 'Dithering'? |
| Shadow foreign secretary Mr Hague said: "Clearly if he [Mr Brown] were to step back from having an election now, then dithering would have turned a degree of political cowardice on top because the expectation had been raised so high. | Shadow foreign secretary Mr Hague said: "Clearly if he [Mr Brown] were to step back from having an election now, then dithering would have turned a degree of political cowardice on top because the expectation had been raised so high. |
| "And I think it would be a concession since the Labour Party would have an election now if they thought they could win it, that's pretty clear. | "And I think it would be a concession since the Labour Party would have an election now if they thought they could win it, that's pretty clear. |
| "It would be a concession that they don't think even they can win an election now with Gordon Brown's remaining honeymoon period." | "It would be a concession that they don't think even they can win an election now with Gordon Brown's remaining honeymoon period." |
| Last week, Labour treasurer Jack Dromey said the party was "gearing up" for an election, declaring: "I'm confident of our capacity to be ready. We will be." | Last week, Labour treasurer Jack Dromey said the party was "gearing up" for an election, declaring: "I'm confident of our capacity to be ready. We will be." |
| But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said Mr Brown's focus was "getting on" with the job of being prime minister. | But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said Mr Brown's focus was "getting on" with the job of being prime minister. |
| On Monday, Sir Malcolm, a former foreign secretary, said: "I think to contemplate a general election two years after the last general election when you have a healthy working majority in the House of Commons is a constitutional outrage." | On Monday, Sir Malcolm, a former foreign secretary, said: "I think to contemplate a general election two years after the last general election when you have a healthy working majority in the House of Commons is a constitutional outrage." |
| Mr Brown became prime minister in June, after Tony Blair stepped down. | Mr Brown became prime minister in June, after Tony Blair stepped down. |