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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Decision demanded over election | Decision demanded over election |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Opposition leaders have challenged the prime minister to end speculation over whether he will call a general election this autumn. | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron called upon Gordon Brown to end what he described as "endless dithering". | Conservative leader David Cameron called upon Gordon Brown to end what he described as "endless dithering". |
| Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the continued uncertainty was damaging the process of government. | Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the continued uncertainty was damaging the process of government. |
| The prime minister is spending the day in Downing Street with his advisors, assessing his decision. | The prime minister is spending the day in Downing Street with his advisors, assessing his decision. |
| 'Dithering and calculating' | 'Dithering and calculating' |
| Mr Cameron said he and his party were primed for an election if one was called. | Mr Cameron said he and his party were primed for an election if one was called. |
| Speaking in Oxford, he said: "Gordon Brown has put himself in a fairly extraordinary position. He should either get on and call it or get on with running the country. | Speaking in Oxford, he said: "Gordon Brown has put himself in a fairly extraordinary position. He should either get on and call it or get on with running the country. |
| "Instead, he's been endlessly dithering and calculating. He's been using government announcements and troop announcements to make himself look good." | "Instead, he's been endlessly dithering and calculating. He's been using government announcements and troop announcements to make himself look good." |
| In a speech to party members in Glasgow, Mr Campbell said: "All the indications are that the government, both in public and private, has deliberately encouraged the belief that an election is imminent. | In a speech to party members in Glasgow, Mr Campbell said: "All the indications are that the government, both in public and private, has deliberately encouraged the belief that an election is imminent. |
| 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 |
| "That has meant the management of government business has been in the interests of the Labour party, not the public." | "That has meant the management of government business has been in the interests of the Labour party, not the public." |
| He said if given the chance, his party would "rattle the cage" of British politics. | He said if given the chance, his party would "rattle the cage" of British politics. |
| Speculation has been mounting that Mr Brown will call a November election after he announced plans to make a statement to MPs on Iraq on Monday. | Speculation has been mounting that Mr Brown will call a November election after he announced plans to make a statement to MPs on Iraq on Monday. |
| An announcement on the government's long-term spending plans has also been brought forward to Tuesday. | An announcement on the government's long-term spending plans has also been brought forward to Tuesday. |
| The Tories and Lib Dems will spend the day promoting their key policies. | The Tories and Lib Dems will spend the day promoting their key policies. |
| Mr Brown is expected to spend time analysing the latest polling information with his senior advisors. | Mr Brown is expected to spend time analysing the latest polling information with his senior advisors. |
| Private polling | Private polling |
| The newspapers on Saturday contain detailed data on surveys of voter views first published on Friday. | The newspapers on Saturday contain detailed data on surveys of voter views first published on Friday. |
| Labour is also expected to be looking at private polling carried out in marginal seats. | Labour is also expected to be looking at private polling carried out in marginal seats. |
| Mr Cameron has met voters in Oxford, while Sir Menzies addressed his party's Scottish conference in Glasgow. | Mr Cameron has met voters in Oxford, while Sir Menzies addressed his party's Scottish conference in Glasgow. |
| Speculation has mounted over Mr Brown's intentions since it was announced the government's Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) - which sets long-term spending plans - and pre-Budget report (PBR) will be brought forward to Tuesday. | Speculation has mounted over Mr Brown's intentions since it was announced the government's Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) - which sets long-term spending plans - and pre-Budget report (PBR) will be brought forward to Tuesday. |
| This is the last day on which Mr Brown can call an election for 1 November. The two dates most widely touted for an election are 1 and 8 November. | This is the last day on which Mr Brown can call an election for 1 November. The two dates most widely touted for an election are 1 and 8 November. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Politicians invariably call snap general elections when it suits their own political ambitions Brian Agnew, Preston Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Politicians invariably call snap general elections when it suits their own political ambitions Brian Agnew, Preston Send us your comments |
| The CSR and PBR had been expected later in the month. | The CSR and PBR had been expected later in the month. |
| 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. |
| In the pre-Budget report, Chancellor Alistair Darling is thought likely to downgrade the forecast for the growth of the UK economy in 2008. | In the pre-Budget report, Chancellor Alistair Darling is thought likely to downgrade the forecast for the growth of the UK economy in 2008. |
| Falling lead | Falling lead |
| Recent opinion polls have suggested that Labour's lead over the Conservatives has fallen. | Recent opinion polls have suggested that Labour's lead over the Conservatives has fallen. |
| 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. |