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Election pressure mounts for PM Election pressure mounts for PM
(20 minutes later)
Pressure is continuing to mount on Gordon Brown to decide whether to call an autumn general election. Speculation is continuing to mount over whether Gordon Brown will call a November general election next week.
The government has said that the Comprehensive Spending Review - which sets spending for the next three years - will be brought forward to Tuesday. The government says its Comprehensive Spending Review, which sets spending for three years, and pre-Budget report will be brought forward to Tuesday.
This is the last day on which Mr Brown can call an election for 1 November, widely touted as a likely date. This is the last day on which Mr Brown can call an election for 1 November.
Opinion polls suggest Labour's lead over the Tories has fallen, with one putting the two parties level. The CSR and PBR had been expected later in the month. Meanwhile, opinion polls suggest that Labour's lead over the Conservatives has fallen.
Announcements about the CSR and the pre-Budget report will now be made on Tuesday - both had been expected later in the month. 'Bottle'
The Tories and Liberal Democrats both say they are ready to fight an election campaign.
Mr Brown has not ruled out holding an autumn poll, with Tory leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell urging him to "bring it on".
Brown would be mad - and he isn't - to let his fate rest on one set of polls BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full
On Thursday, shadow chancellor George Osborne challenged the prime minister not to "bottle" calling an election.On Thursday, shadow chancellor George Osborne challenged the prime minister not to "bottle" calling an election.
HAVE YOUR SAY Politicians invariably call snap general elections when it suits their own political ambitions Brian Agnew, Preston class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3626&edition=1">Send us your comments Mr Brown had "let his aides stoke up that speculation", he added.
Mr Osborne said: "Either we have this election - which the current opinion polls and the state of the Conservative Party suggest we've got a good chance of winning - or he bottles it. Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said: "When I heard David Cameron say, 'bring it on', I just had one thought - be careful what you wish for."
"That is a pretty extraordinary position for a prime minister to be in after just a few months." Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "What began as a tease has become something rather more serious, really an abuse of the political process."
Mr Brown must go ahead with calling an election after he "let his aides stoke up that speculation" and after he had "moved government announcements into the party conference season in order to try and play party politics", Mr Osborne added. Polls
An ICM poll for the Guardian newspaper indicates that Conservative and Labour are level - on 38% - compared with a 7% lead for Labour one month ago.An ICM poll for the Guardian newspaper indicates that Conservative and Labour are level - on 38% - compared with a 7% lead for Labour one month ago.
STATE OF THE PARTIES 38% - Labour38% - Conservatives16% - Liberal Democrats Source: ICM/The Guardian
The poll surveyed 1,008 adults on Wednesday and Thursday, after David Cameron's address, delivered without notes or autocue, to the Conservative conference in Blackpool.The poll surveyed 1,008 adults on Wednesday and Thursday, after David Cameron's address, delivered without notes or autocue, to the Conservative conference in Blackpool.
Meanwhile, the results of an earlier YouGov survey for Channel 4 News - which interviewed 1,741 people, also on Wednesday and Thursday - suggested the government, on 40%, was four points ahead of the Tories compared with a lead of 11 points last week.Meanwhile, the results of an earlier YouGov survey for Channel 4 News - which interviewed 1,741 people, also on Wednesday and Thursday - suggested the government, on 40%, was four points ahead of the Tories compared with a lead of 11 points last week.
And a Populus poll for the Times, for which 803 adults were interviewed by telephone on Tuesday and Wednesday, indicated a three-point lead for Labour, on 39%, down from 10 points a week ago.And a Populus poll for the Times, for which 803 adults were interviewed by telephone on Tuesday and Wednesday, indicated a three-point lead for Labour, on 39%, down from 10 points a week ago.
STATE OF THE PARTIES 39% - Labour36% - Conservatives15% - Liberal Democrats10% - Other Source: Populus/The Times HAVE YOUR SAY Politicians invariably call snap general elections when it suits their own political ambitions Brian Agnew, Preston class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3626&edition=1">Send us your comments
Speaking on Question Time on Thursday night, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said: "When I heard David Cameron say, 'bring it on', I just had one thought - be careful what you wish for." BBC political correspondent James Hardy said Mr Brown had been tested by floods, foot-and-mouth and terror threats but that his biggest test - whether or not to call a general election - was still ahead of him.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, meanwhile, also said Mr Brown must now make his decision. While Mr Brown had dominated the polls in his 100 days as prime minister, the Tories appeared to have bounced back, he added.
Brown would be mad - and he isn't - to let his fate rest on one set of polls BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2007/10/remaining_quest.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full But a further 32% of those questioned called for Mr Brown to wait until 2008 before calling an election.
"What began as a tease has become something rather more serious, really an abuse of the political process," he said.
BBC political correspondent James Hardy said that Mr Brown had been tested by floods, foot-and-mouth and terror threats but that his biggest test - whether or not to call a general election - was still ahead of him.
Our correspondent said the three polls were a key indicator of where public opinion was after the party conference season.
And while Mr Brown had dominated the polls in his 100 days as prime minister, the Tories appeared to have bounced back.
STATE OF THE PARTIES 40% - Labour36% - Conservatives13% - Liberal Democrats11% - Other Source: YouGov/Channel 4 News But a further 32% of those questioned called for Mr Brown to wait until 2008 before calling an election.
In its poll for Channel 4 News, YouGov also asked whether an autumn election was in Britain's best interests.In its poll for Channel 4 News, YouGov also asked whether an autumn election was in Britain's best interests.
It found 36% thought it was, compared with 29% last week.It found 36% thought it was, compared with 29% last week.
Asked if the prime minister should delay a nationwide vote until 2009, 7% agreed.Asked if the prime minister should delay a nationwide vote until 2009, 7% agreed.
And another 7% said that waiting until 2010, at the end of the government's current five-year term, would be their preference.And another 7% said that waiting until 2010, at the end of the government's current five-year term, would be their preference.