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PM refuses to veto election
Joe Murphy, Political Editor16 Oct 2008
GORDON BROWN today refused to rule out calling an election to capitalise on his widely-praised handling of the economic crisis.
Asked if he might go to the polls early, the Prime Minister insisted he was currently focused on the economy. However, he did not deny that ministers were pressing him to consider the option.
"I am getting on with the job of trying to take us through these difficult times," he said. "That's the only thing on my mind."
Mr Brown was visibly relaxed at the end of a summit where he has earned so many plaudits as to cause reports of a "squabble" with a jealous French president Nicolas Sarkozy. There have been days of intense rivalry between the two leaders over who gets credit for the economic rescue plan that was formally agreed at today's Brussels summit.
French diplomats were furious at what they saw as a deliberate campaign by Mr Brown to push their president in the shade and claim all the plaudits for himself.
They complained that Mr Brown arrived early to hog the limelight, and made announcements without waiting for Mr Sarkozy, the summit chairman and current EU president. Foreign Secretary David Miliband played down reports of a fall-out. "This is not about politicians squabbling," he said on Sky News, adding: "This is about a real world crisis."
A £1.7 trillion intervention to prop up Europe's banks was based on Mr Brown's ideas. But President Sarkozy, as chairman of the summit, felt he deserved plaudits for negotiating an EU-wide agreement on the moves and also for having suggested a global reform process at the same time as Mr Brown.
Mr Brown, who usually arrives late at EU gatherings, missed Prime Minister's Questions so that he could turn up early. He then circulated his proposals for future regulation, separately from a Sarkozy paper.
Labour insiders said a snap election was difficult because the party had not assembled an election war chest.
Reader views (18)
Please please call an election. Six weeks is a long time for you to survive.
- Den, London, 17/10/2008 08:52
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Paul Bradford,
He has an army of over a thousand Economists working for the government. Of course it was not his Idea.
Dave, there will be no snap election, the EU will not allow it. The situation in Ireland has to be resolved so the Lisbon treaty can be ratified.
Then, and only then will there be an election so the Tories will not have to call a referendum if they win.
I sincerely hope I am wrong !!
- Chris, London, 17/10/2008 08:25
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Uncle Vanya's comment mentions Glenrothes.
Is it not too late for the General Election to be called for that same date?
I do think that any such gamble would be futile, though, and that a 'surprise' call now would sink McLabour.
- Dave, cumbria, 16/10/2008 22:43
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"widely-praised handling of the economic crisis"??!? Umemployment is increasing, people losing their homes and savings, taxes never have been higher, the country has never been less competitive, other leaders are blatantly ignoring Crash Gordon, state banking system, transport and police system out of control. This is what the UK has for problems today and am I the only one to blame Mr. Bean Brown????????????
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 16/10/2008 22:25
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Do it Brown, do it now. Return this country to democracy.
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 16/10/2008 21:26
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Apart from arrogant, he is rude. If Brown was worried about the global crisis and not his image, he would have respected the Presidency of the EU. Whether he likes it or not, it is France at the moment, and he could have made suggestions and contributions, not hog the limelight. If Sarkozy is annoyed, he has a right to be so. Had Britain been in the Presidency, we would be spitting feathers if Sarkozy or any other European leader came here to take charge. Typical! Brown is using the crisis to massage his ego and boost his standing. I hope people will see through this. Call an election and feel the anger. We will not forget who has been in charge all these years, bleeding us dry.
- Beatriz, London, 16/10/2008 21:17
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If he has had his ear whispered into by Mandelson, then he might just risk all so he can return to a 4th term and screw the UK up totally. I just hope he does. But it is unlikely if the results of the up and coming by election in Scotland go belly up for Labour.
Either the SNP will take this seat off Labour, or maybe something surprising like the Lib-Dems might just squeeze out Labour and the SNP. But strange things can happen in politics. It might be that Mr Brown becomes the First Elected President-Emperor of Europe rather than Tony Blair, as he is 'yesterdays man'.
- Uncle Vanya, Chelmsford England, 16/10/2008 17:36
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I very much doubt that this 'package' was dreamt up by Mr Brown. My apologies if that is in fact the case, but I believe the people that really came up with the idea should get the credit. So, how about it Mr Brown, was it really down to you, or should people be praising someone else?
- Paul Bradford, Monflanquin, France, 16/10/2008 17:34
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He bottled an election when he was ahead in the polls. Go figure.
- Frodo, Andover. England, 16/10/2008 17:19
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Let's hope his hint of "calling an election" early (before he's kicked out in 2010) backfires as spectacularly as the earlier occasion he bottled out of calling one did. He hasn't got the guts anyway to risk an election unless he was 100 points ahead in the polls.
- Judith C, London, UK, 16/10/2008 16:40
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What a surprise - all this talk of "for the good of the country" from Brown and really all he's thinking about is his own personal benefit again.
- Ian, London, 16/10/2008 16:31
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If he tries an election in the current economic climate, the country will veto him !
- Peter Haldane, London, 16/10/2008 16:30
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Oh no, not again! Just rule it out altogether to end the speculation, and then call a surprise one to completely wrong foot the Tories.
- Dhanraj, basildon, essex, 16/10/2008 16:19
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Isn't this blatent opportunism?
- Albert Swift, Aberdeen, Scotland, 16/10/2008 16:14
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bring it on Brown and let the country vote you and your sorry party out for good!!
- Fly, london, 16/10/2008 16:05
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If he calls an early election it will be because he knows the situation is going to get worse!
- Dave, London, 16/10/2008 15:44
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So sleazy. When Brown had to sign the EU constitution he arrived late to avoid publicity. Now he arrives early to court publicity. A Churchill he isn't.
- Kr, Cap Ferrat FRANCE, 16/10/2008 15:38
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They should count spoiled votes, so that the Returning Officer can say "Conservative, 500 votes, Labour, 400 votes, Lib dems, 300 votes, and twelve thousand spoiled votes because no one believes in the system any more."
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE ., 16/10/2008 15:27
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