Brown rules out snap election

Updated 19.28 Sat Oct 06 2007

Keywords: Conservatives, election, Labour, Gordon Brown

Prime Minister Gordon Brown will not call a general election this year, it has been confirmed.

The Prime Minister decided against going to the polls because he wants a general election based on the Government's "vision for change".

Speculation that he is set to go to the country early has been fuelled after it was confirmed that two key Commons statements would be made early next week

He said: "I will not be calling an election, and let me say why.

"Over the summer months we have had to deal with crises - we have had to deal with foot and mouth, terrorism, floods, financial crises.

"And yes we could have had an election based on competence, and I hope people would have understood that we acted competently.

"But what I want to do is show people the vision that we have for the future of this country in housing and health and education and 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 show the change in the country itself."

Opposition leaders had recently challenged Mr Brown to an election, with speculation mounting after the announcement of two key Commons statements to come next week.

Meanwhile, recent polls showed the Conservatives narrowing Labour's lead - and in one case eliminating it altogether.

A Guardian poll put Labour and the Tories tied on 38 per cent, a Times survey put Labour three points ahead on 39 per cent and a Channel 4 News poll reported a four-point Labour lead, by 40 per cent to 36 per cent.