Tories challenge Brown: Get the election over with

In a rare move, Mr Brown publicly ruled out a spring poll as he signalled fresh plans to help Britain weather the recession.

But allies made clear that he could still go to the country later next year, with various advisers suggesting June or October for an election date.

The Tory leader challenged Mr Brown to go as soon as possible, warning that Britain could no longer suffer the "borrowing binge" that would mean higher future taxes.

Mr Cameron told LBC Radio: "I suspect there will be an awful lot of will he, won't he?' I just wish he would get on with it and hold an election so that the people can decide do you want to go on with this crazy borrowing binge which is adding to our debt, building up problems for future generations and delaying the recovery now, or do you want to make a change?' 

"The sooner we stop this man from making the situation worse, the better for all concerned, and we can only do that through an election."

Mr Brown for the first time boasted that his personal popularity had been boosted by his response to the economic downturn.

"When things go well people call me Gordon. When they're bad they call me Mr Brown. At the moment they are calling me Gordon," Mr Brown told the Daily Mirror.

Mr Brown's close ally and former spin doctor Charlie Whelan has claimed that a June poll would be "ideal". Euro and local elections to be held that month would boost turnout and Mr Brown would have just met Barack Obama in Britain. In a bid to avoid a repeat of the "on-off" election fiasco of last year, the Prime Minister tried to kill off speculation by saying in the Mirror today that he would not countenance a spring poll.

"I want to get on with the work of getting the economy moving and making sure our health service, our schools and our policing is the best it can be," Mr Brown said.

When asked if that meant ruling out a February or March poll, he replied: "Yes. I am not interested in speculation about an election."