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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown 'rules out' autumn election | Brown 'rules out' autumn election |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown is expected to say he will not call a general election this autumn, the BBC has learned. | Gordon Brown is expected to say he will not call a general election this autumn, the BBC has learned. |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson understands that the prime minister is due to make a statement soon. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson understands that the prime minister is due to make a statement soon. |
| Opposition leaders had challenged Mr Brown to end uncertainty over whether he would call an election after mounting speculation in recent weeks. | Opposition leaders had challenged Mr Brown to end uncertainty over whether he would call an election after mounting speculation in recent weeks. |
| 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. |
| Speculation had been mounting that the prime minister would call a November election after he announced plans to make a statement to MPs on Iraq on Monday. | Speculation had been mounting that the prime minister would call a November election after he announced plans to make a statement to MPs on Iraq on Monday. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron had called upon Mr Brown to end what he described as "endless dithering". | Conservative leader David Cameron had called upon Mr Brown to end what he described as "endless dithering". |
| Marginal seats | |
| And Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the continued uncertainty was damaging the process of government. | And Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the continued uncertainty was damaging the process of government. |
| The two dates that were most widely touted for an election had been 1 and 8 November. | The two dates that were most widely touted for an election had been 1 and 8 November. |
| Speculation had grown when the government also moved forward plans to outline its Comprehensive Spending Review - which sets long-term spending plans - and pre-Budget report to Tuesday, rather than late October. | |
| Nick Robinson suggested that the main reason for not calling a snap election would be an unfavourable poll of marginal seats showing a swing to Tories. | |
| Our correspondent said the PM wants to win with a mandate for real change, but does not think he could do that with an early election, and consequently may not call an election until 2009 | |
| 'Verdict' election | |
| He said that Mr Brown will now plump for a "verdict election" - one based on his actual performance, not on how people think he may do in the future. | |
| Nick Robinson added: "Mr Brown's opponents will make hay. They will say that he has bottled it. | |
| "The only source of comfort for Labour politicians is that in the end this is about Westminster calculations and is not a decision that affects ordinary people's lives. | |
| "This will be a day, a weekend and a probably week of red faces, of awkward headlines and embarrassment for those around Gordon Brown," he added. |