UK:David Cameron has accused Gordon Brown of "treating the British people as fools" and "not being straight" with them about the reason for his decision not to call a general election, writes Frank Millar, London Editor.
The Conservative leader stepped up his attacks on the prime minister yesterday after Mr Brown had ruled out an early contest as an ICM poll for the News of the World put the Conservatives six points ahead in key marginal constituencies - pointing to the possible collapse of Labour's majority and a hung parliament.
In a pre-recorded interview for the BBC's Andrew Marr programme yesterday, Mr Brown attempted to make light of his decision, saying "the easiest thing" would have been for him to call the election now on the issue of his government's "competence". Arguing that it had been his "duty" to consider whether to hold the election, the prime minister suggested he had instead opted to show people his "vision for change in Britain".
However, Mr Cameron insisted Mr Brown was "just not being straight with people, it's as simple as that" while "everybody knows he is not having an election because there's a danger of him losing it". After weeks of briefing and "spinning" by key Brown allies, most of Westminster had expected Mr Brown to announce an election tomorrow for November 1st.
However, three polls showing the Conservatives in front - and ICM's findings presumably mirrored by Labour's own private polling in the marginals - ended on Saturday in what Mr Cameron declared "a humiliating retreat" by Mr Brown after a demonstration of "great weakness and indecision".
Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell said Mr Brown had suffered a loss of nerve, charging: "The inevitable conclusion is that he's been acting in the interests of the Labour Party and not in the interests of the country."
Cabinet Office minister Ed Miliband claimed Mr Brown had made his decision before the News of the World poll was revealed and predicted the whole episode would be quickly forgotten. However, Liberal Democrat Vince Cable said: "Gordon Brown's made a terrible mess of this really and undermined his credibility. I think he may regret his decision to postpone the election."
Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond, meanwhile, branded Mr Brown a "feartie" after he ruled out the election. "Gordon Brown is not so much the Grand Old Duke of York, more the big feartie from Fife," Mr Salmond mocked.