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/7028677.stm

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Tories 'narrowing Labour's lead' Election pressure mounts for PM
(about 3 hours later)
Labour's lead over the Conservatives has fallen sharply, three opinion polls have suggested. David Cameron has once again called on the prime minister to go to the polls as pressure continues to mount on him to decide on a general election.
An ICM poll for the Guardian newspaper indicates the gap has narrowed to just one per cent compared to seven per cent a month ago. The Tory leader said it was in the country's interest for Gordon Brown to call an election "right now".
It follows two other surveys which suggest Labour's lead has dropped to four and three percentage points. There has been increasing speculation that the PM, in power for 100 days, will do so as soon as next week.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to decide this weekend whether to call a snap general election this autumn. But three opinions polls suggest Labour's lead over the Tories has fallen sharply in the past week.
The ICM poll for the Guardian indicates the two main parties are now almost level. I relish the opportunity of getting out and taking the message to the country David Cameron
STATE OF THE PARTIES 39% - Labour38% - Conservatives16% - Liberal Democrats Source: ICM/The Guardian Speaking on Thursday, Mr Cameron told BBC News: "I'm passionate about getting out there and explaining to people we don't have to put up with another years of Labour failure, that we can really give people a choice about making the changes we need in our country.
It puts Labour on 39%, the Tories on 38% and the Liberal Democrats on 16%. "I relish the opportunity of getting out and taking the message to the country."
The poll surveyed 977 adults between Wednesday and Thursday, after David Cameron's unscripted address to the Conservative conference in Blackpool. He was speaking as it emerged that an ICM poll for the Guardian newspaper indicates that Conservative and Labour are level - on 38% - compared to a 7% lead for Labour one month ago.
Meanwhile, the results of an earlier YouGov survey for Channel 4 News suggested the government was four points ahead of the Tories, whereas it was 11 points in front last week. STATE OF THE PARTIES 38% - Labour38% - Conservatives16% - Liberal Democrats Source: ICM/The Guardian
And a Populus poll for The Times indicated a three-point gap, down from 10 points seven days ago. The poll surveyed 1,008 adults on Wednesday and Thursday, after David Cameron's unscripted address to the Conservative conference in Blackpool.
Some 40% of those questioned by YouGov would vote Labour in any general election, down from 44% in a similar survey 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.
STATE OF THE PARTIES 40% - Labour36% - Conservatives13% - Liberal Democrats11% - Other Source: YouGov/Channel 4 News 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.
The Tories were up three points at 36%, while the Lib Dems were static on 13%.
In the Populus survey, for which 803 adults were interviewed by telephone on Tuesday and Wednesday, Labour was on 39%, compared to 41% last week.
The Tories stood at 36%, up five points, with the Liberal Democrats down two points at 15%.
Meanwhile, YouGov also asked its 1,741 participants whether an autumn election was in Britain's best interests.
STATE OF THE PARTIES 39% - Labour36% - Conservatives15% - Liberal Democrats10% - Other Source: Populus/The TimesSTATE OF THE PARTIES 39% - Labour36% - Conservatives15% - Liberal Democrats10% - Other Source: Populus/The Times
It found 36% of them agreed with this statement, compared to 29% last week. Speaking on BBC's Newsnight programme 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."
But a further 32% of those questioned on Wednesday and Thursday, after Mr Cameron's main conference speech, called for Mr Brown to wait until 2008 before calling an election. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, meanwhile, also said Mr Brown must now make his decision.
"What began as a tease has become something rather more serious, really an abuse of the political process," he said.
Mr Brown marked his 100 days in office by visiting a brand new NHS centre in Basildon, Essex.
Key indicator
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 dramatically bounced back.
In its poll for Channel 4 News, YouGov also asked whether an autumn election was in Britain's best interests.
STATE OF THE PARTIES 40% - Labour36% - Conservatives13% - Liberal Democrats11% - Other Source: YouGov/Channel 4 News
It found 36% thought it was, compared with 29% last week.
But a further 32% of those questioned called for Mr Brown to wait until 2008 before calling an election.
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.
Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have said they were ready for such a poll.
ELECTION TIMING 36% - Autumn 200732% - 20087% - 20097% - 201017% - Don't know Source: YouGov/Channel 4 News
On Thursday, Tory leader David Cameron wrote to Mr Brown, asking for his shadow Cabinet to be given access to Whitehall officials, to smooth the way for any change of government following an autumn election.
Last week, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell called on Mr Brown to stop dithering, saying continuous speculation was "bad for the economy".
But Mr Brown has repeatedly said he was "getting on with the job" of governing when asked if a poll would be organised.