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Gordon Brown looked to have written off Labour's hopes of winning a key by-election today after it emerged he will not visit the seat in person.
The Prime Minister refused to commit himself to appearing in the Norwich North campaign, which was triggered by the resignation of Left-winger Ian Gibson following revelations that he claimed almost £80,000 in second-home expenses on a London flat which he later sold at a knock-down price to his daughter.
Labour revealed yesterday that the by-election will be held on 23 July.
Mr Brown, who did campaign twice in the successful Glenrothes by-election last year, refused to say if he would repeat the practice for Norwich.
The Tories are expected to take the seat if Labour's traditional vote stays at home.
Conservative frontbencher and neighbouring MP for Mid Norfolk Keith Simpson said that "it looks as if he is running away from the by-election".
Critics believe Labour wants to get a possible defeat out of the way early in the summer, whereas if the by-election had been held in the autumn it may have triggered fresh plots to oust the Prime Minister.
