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Parties attack election decision Parties attack election decision
(40 minutes later)
Opposition parties say they are disappointed by Gordon Brown's decision not to call an autumn election. Opposition MPs have criticised Gordon Brown's decision not to call an autumn poll, accusing him of losing his nerve.
The Conservatives say Mr Brown was frightened by opinion polls in the Sunday Times and News of the World which put the Tories ahead of Labour. The Conservatives say Gordon Brown was frightened by opinion polls in the Sunday Times and News of the World which put the Tories ahead of Labour.
The prime minister said a vote was being delayed so people had time to see how successful his policies were.The prime minister said a vote was being delayed so people had time to see how successful his policies were.
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said the PM would have been criticised for whatever decision he had taken.Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said the PM would have been criticised for whatever decision he had taken.
'Retreat' Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Brown had shown "great weakness and indecision", and had made a "humiliating retreat".
The prime minister said he wanted a chance to show the country his "vision for change" and to develop his policies further. Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the he had had a "crisis of confidence", and that his decision showed "a loss of nerve".
He said an election could have been held based on "competency" in dealing with crises, but he wanted to develop housing, health and education. But Mr Brown said he wanted a chance to show the country his "vision for change" and to develop his policies further.
Mr McNulty told BBC News 24 any decision taken by Mr Brown would have attracted "negative connotations".
He's been trying to spin his way into a general election campaign and now he's had to make a humiliating retreat David Cameron,Conservative leader Reaction to decision in quotes Cameron reaction
"I think in the end everyone got a bit carried away by it, media included," he said.
"We had the strange spectacle of the Conservatives who were last week saying 'come on, bring it on, bring it on', when if you talked to them privately and in the background, the last thing they wanted was an election."
But Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Brown had shown "great weakness and indecision", and had made a "humiliating retreat".
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said: "The Labour Party promised us at the last election that Tony Blair would serve the full term and then there would be an election.
"Well, Tony Blair's gone, the new guy's in charge, he's been there for a while now. He's deliberately stoked up speculation about an election and now he's gone and bottled it."
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the prime minister had had a "crisis of confidence", and that his decision showed "a loss of nerve".
"He should have stated his intentions, clearly and unequivocally. The inevitable conclusion is that he's been acting in the interests of the Labour Party and not in the interests of the country," he said.
Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable said: "Gordon Brown's made a terrible mess of this really and undermined his credibility. And I think actually he may regret his decision to postpone the election."
Unfavourable polls
The government's assistant whip, Sadiq Khan, said Mr Brown had never intimated he was thinking of calling an election.
He said: "The prime minister has never publicly or privately said to anyone that it was his intention to hold a general election this autumn."
This is a considerable embarrassment for Gordon Brown BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full
BBC political editor Nick Robinson suggested the main reason for not calling a snap election would be an unfavourable poll of marginal seats showing a swing to the Tories.
A poll published by Sunday's News of the World puts the Tories ahead by 6% in marginal seats, with the party overall at 44% against Labour's 38%.A poll published by Sunday's News of the World puts the Tories ahead by 6% in marginal seats, with the party overall at 44% against Labour's 38%.
Translated into a general election, it would mean a hung Parliament with Labour holding 306 seats and the Tories 246.Translated into a general election, it would mean a hung Parliament with Labour holding 306 seats and the Tories 246.
A poll carried out for the Sunday Times showed the Tories had taken a three-point lead.A poll carried out for the Sunday Times showed the Tories had taken a three-point lead.
'Vision'
Mr Brown revealed his decision not to call an election exclusively to the BBC's Andrew Marr on Saturday in Downing Street.Mr Brown revealed his decision not to call an election exclusively to the BBC's Andrew Marr on Saturday in Downing Street.
He said: "I'll not be calling an election. I have a vision for change in Britain and I want to show people how in government we're implementing it. If you talked to them privately and in the background, the last thing they wanted was an election Tony McNulty,Home Office minister class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7031803.stm">Reaction to decision in quotes href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7030000/newsid_7031900?redirect=7031979.stm&news=1&nbwm=1&nbram=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Cameron reaction
HAVE YOUR SAY Brown has gone for a decision - not a reaction Brian Send us your comments
"Over the summer months we've had to deal with crises, we've had to deal with foot-and-mouth, with terrorism, with floods, we had financial crises.
"Yes, we could have had an election on competence and I hope people would have understood we have acted competently, but what I want to do is show people the vision we have for the future of this country in housing, health and education."
Mounting speculation
The prime minister was asked by Andrew Marr whether there would be no election for a long time to come.The prime minister was asked by Andrew Marr whether there would be no election for a long time to come.
Mr Brown said: "I think it's very unlikely that this will happen in the next period."Mr Brown said: "I think it's very unlikely that this will happen in the next period."
Our correspondent said later: "I would say in effect, unless something extraordinary happens, he is ruling out a general election either this year or in 2008." Mr Marr said: "I would say in effect, unless something extraordinary happens, he is ruling out a general election either this year or in 2008."
Mr Brown said an election could have been held based on "competency" in dealing with crises such as foot-and-mouth, terrorism and floods, but he wanted to develop housing, health and education.
He said: "I'll not be calling an election. I have a vision for change in Britain and I want to show people how in government we're implementing it."
He added: "I want the chance in the next phase of my premiership to develop and show people the policies that are going to make a huge difference and make a change in the whole country itself."
'Terrible mess'
Speculation had been mounting that the prime minister would call a November election after changes to parliamentary announcements.Speculation had been mounting that the prime minister would call a November election after changes to parliamentary announcements.
Mr Cameron said: "The reason the prime minister has cancelled this election is that the Conservative Party is making the arguments about the changes this country needs. People are responding very positively to our proposals. This is a considerable embarrassment for Gordon Brown BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2007/10/considerable_embarrassment.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full
"The prime minister has shown great weakness and indecision. Mr Cameron said: "The reason the prime minister has cancelled this election is that the Conservative Party is making the arguments about the changes this country needs. People are responding very positively to our proposals."
"It's quite clear he's not been focussed on running the country these last few months, he's been trying to spin his way into a general election campaign and now he's had to make a humiliating retreat." Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said: "The Labour Party promised us at the last election that Tony Blair would serve the full term and then there would be an election.
"Well, Tony Blair's gone, the new guy's in charge, he's been there for a while now. He's deliberately stoked up speculation about an election and now he's gone and bottled it."
Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable said: "Gordon Brown's made a terrible mess of this really and undermined his credibility. And I think actually he may regret his decision to postpone the election."
'Carried away'
But Mr McNulty told BBC News 24 any decision taken by Mr Brown would have attracted "negative connotations".
"I think in the end everyone got a bit carried away by it, media included," he said.
"We had the strange spectacle of the Conservatives who were last week saying 'come on, bring it on, bring it on', when if you talked to them privately and in the background, the last thing they wanted was an election."
And Labour assistant whip, Sadiq Khan, said Mr Brown had never intimated he was thinking of calling an election.
Gordon Brown's interview with Andrew Marr can be seen on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One at 0900 BST on Sunday. The programme will be streamed on the BBC News website.
Gordon Brown's interview with Andrew Marr can be seen on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One at 0900 BST on Sunday. The programme will be streamed on the BBC News website.