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| Election pressure mounts for PM | Election pressure mounts for PM |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Speculation is continuing to mount that Gordon Brown will call a November general election next week. | Speculation is continuing to mount that Gordon Brown will call a November general election next week. |
| The government says its Comprehensive Spending Review - which sets long-term spending plans - and pre-Budget report will be brought forward to Tuesday. | The government says its Comprehensive Spending Review - which sets long-term spending plans - 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. | This is the last day on which Mr Brown can call an election for 1 November. |
| The CSR and PBR had been expected later in the month. Meanwhile, opinion polls suggest that Labour's lead over the Conservatives has fallen. | The CSR and PBR had been expected later in the month. Meanwhile, opinion polls suggest that Labour's lead over the Conservatives has fallen. |
| The two dates most widely touted for an election are 1 and 8 November. | The two dates most widely touted for an election are 1 and 8 November. |
| Economic forecast | Economic forecast |
| Mr Brown is due to make a statement to the House of Commons on Iraq on Monday, the day MPs return from the summer recess. | Mr Brown is due to make a statement to the House of Commons on Iraq on Monday, the day MPs return from the summer recess. |
| Tuesday's CSR - only the second since Labour came to power in 1997 - will set out the government's spending policies and priorities for the next decade or so. | Tuesday's CSR - only the second since Labour came to power in 1997 - will set out the government's spending policies and priorities for the next decade or so. |
| 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 | 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 |
| And, in the pre-Budget report, Chancellor Alistair Darling is thought likely to downgrade the forecast for the growth of the UK economy in 2008. | And, in the pre-Budget report, Chancellor Alistair Darling is thought likely to downgrade the forecast for the growth of the UK economy in 2008. |
| Mr Brown is expected to study the opinion polls over the weekend before announcing his decision on a possible election. | Mr Brown is expected to study the opinion polls over the weekend before announcing his decision on a possible election. |
| He has not ruled out holding an autumn poll and both Tory leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell have urged him to "bring it on". | He has not ruled out holding an autumn poll and both Tory leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell have urged him to "bring it on". |
| 'Be careful' | 'Be careful' |
| Shadow chancellor George Osborne challenged Mr Brown not to "bottle" calling an election, saying he had "let his aides stoke up that speculation". | Shadow chancellor George Osborne challenged Mr Brown not to "bottle" calling an election, saying he had "let his aides stoke up that speculation". |
| But 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." | But 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." |
| Sir Menzies said: "He really has to come clean and tell Parliament and the country what his intentions are. | |
| "What began as a tease of the opposition parties a few weeks ago by the government has really turned into an abuse of the constitutional process and it's high time the prime minister brought the uncertainty to an end." | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Politicians invariably call snap general elections when it suits their own political ambitions Brian Agnew, Preston Send us your comments | |
| 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. |
| The poll surveyed 1,008 adults on Wednesday and Thursday, after David Cameron's address to the Conservative conference in Blackpool. | The poll surveyed 1,008 adults on Wednesday and Thursday, after David Cameron's address 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| While Mr Brown had dominated the polls in his 100 days as prime minister, the Tories appeared to have bounced back, he added. | While Mr Brown had dominated the polls in his 100 days as prime minister, the Tories appeared to have bounced back, he added. |
| But a further 32% of those questioned called for Mr Brown to wait until 2008 before calling an election. | 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. |