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Brown 'treating people as fools' Brown 'treating people as fools'
(10 minutes later)
David Cameron has accused Gordon Brown of "treating the British people as fools" in not calling a snap election.David Cameron has accused Gordon Brown of "treating the British people as fools" in not calling a snap election.
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.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.
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".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".
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell accused Mr Brown of a "loss of nerve".Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell accused Mr Brown of a "loss of nerve".
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 Gordon Brown Lib Dems 'expected good poll' Sunday newspaper verdicts Brown inheritance tax hint 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 Gordon Brown Lib Dem bid for fixed polls Sunday newspaper verdicts Brown inheritance tax hint
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%.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%.
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 suggested 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.
During the interview Mr Brown also said it was "very unlikely" there would be an election in 2008.During the interview Mr Brown also said it was "very unlikely" there would be an election in 2008.
'Easiest thing'''Easiest thing''
He denied that the opinion polls had led to the decision not to hold an election, saying: "I have a vision for change in Britain and I want to show people how in government we're implementing it."He denied that the opinion polls had led to the decision not to hold an election, saying: "I have a vision for change in Britain and I want to show people how in government we're implementing it."
Pressed on the decision, Mr Brown said that the series of crises since he became PM in June meant "the easiest thing I could have done is call an election. I could have called an election on competence".Pressed on the decision, Mr Brown said that the series of crises since he became PM in June meant "the easiest thing I could have done is call an election. I could have called an election on competence".
The reason the prime minister has cancelled this election is that the Conservative Party is making the arguments about the changes this country needs David Cameron Reaction to decision in quotes Cameron reaction The reason the prime minister has cancelled this election is that the Conservative Party is making the arguments about the changes this country needs David Cameron Reaction to decision in quotes Cameron reaction
He added: "We would win an election, in my view, whether we had it today, next week or weeks after."He added: "We would win an election, in my view, whether we had it today, next week or weeks after."
But, he said: "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."But, he said: "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 accepted that the widespread speculation that he was considering holding an election had been true.He accepted that the widespread speculation that he was considering holding an election had been true.
"When you are prime minister and you have the power to make this decision, people come to you and say 'you must consider it' and you've got to consider it because you have to exercise power with responsibility," he said."When you are prime minister and you have the power to make this decision, people come to you and say 'you must consider it' and you've got to consider it because you have to exercise power with responsibility," he said.
That responsibility also included listening to the British people - and he said they wanted to see him "get on with the job" rather than holding an election.That responsibility also included listening to the British people - and he said they wanted to see him "get on with the job" rather than holding an election.
Mr Brown said he "relished" the chance to get stuck into the Conservative policy pledges on things like inheritance tax.Mr Brown said he "relished" the chance to get stuck into the Conservative policy pledges on things like inheritance tax.
'Bottled it''Bottled it'
But 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."But 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.
This is a considerable embarrassment for Gordon Brown BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Send us your comments Iraq statement defendedThis is a considerable embarrassment for Gordon Brown BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Send us your comments Iraq statement defended
"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 leader Sir Menzies Campbell said his party would table a bill in the House of Commons this week proposing that there be a fixed time between elections.Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said his party would table a bill in the House of Commons this week proposing that there be a fixed time between elections.
He said it was "quite wrong" to leave the timing of an election up to prime ministers, who will take decisions based on what is best for their party rather than the country.He said it was "quite wrong" to leave the timing of an election up to prime ministers, who will take decisions based on what is best for their party rather than the country.
Sir Menzies said he had "no doubt" that ministers have been planning a General Election rather than "getting on with the governance of the country".Sir Menzies said he had "no doubt" that ministers have been planning a General Election rather than "getting on with the governance of the country".