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Parties attack election decision Brown 'treating people as fools'
(about 1 hour later)
Opposition MPs have criticised Gordon Brown's decision not to call an autumn poll, accusing him of losing his nerve. David Cameron has accused Gordon Brown of "treating the British people as fools" in not calling a snap election.
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. Mr Brown told the BBC he had had a "duty" to consider whether to hold an election, but decided against it so he could show his "vision" for Britain.
The prime minister said a vote was being delayed so people had time to see how successful his policies were. But the Tory leader said the PM "was not being straight... everybody knows he is not having an election because there's a danger of him losing it".
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said the PM would have been criticised for whatever decision he had taken. Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell accused Mr Brown of a "loss of nerve".
Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Brown had shown "great weakness and indecision", and had made a "humiliating retreat". Mr Brown's announcement to the BBC's Andrew Marr programme that there would not be an election came as a poll published by Sunday's News of the World suggests the Tories are ahead by 6% in marginal seats, with the party overall at 44% against Labour's 38%.
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the he had had a "crisis of confidence", and that his decision showed "a loss of nerve".
But Mr Brown said he wanted a chance to show the country his "vision for change" and to develop his policies further.
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 suggested the Tories had taken a three-point lead.
'Vision''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 in an interview with Mr Marr on Saturday in Downing Street.
If you talked to them privately and in the background, the last thing they wanted was an election Tony McNulty,Home Office minister Reaction to decision in quotes Cameron reaction If you talked to them privately and in the background, the last thing they wanted was an election Tony McNulty,Home Office minister Reaction to decision in quotes Cameron reaction
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 he could also rule out an election in 2008.
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."
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.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 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."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''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.
This is a considerable embarrassment for Gordon Brown BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Send us your commentsThis is a considerable embarrassment for Gordon Brown BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Send us your comments
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."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."
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.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.""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."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''Carried away'
But Mr McNulty told BBC News 24 any decision taken by Mr Brown would have attracted "negative connotations". But Home Office Minister Tony 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."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.""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.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.