British Prime Minister Tony Blair is to delay calling the general election out of respect for Pope John Paul II, Downing Street said today.
A spokesman said Mr Blair would not - as had been widely expected - be going to Buckingham Palace tomorrow to seek a dissolution of Parliament.
"The Prime Minister will be attending vespers at Westminster Cathedral tomorrow afternoon at 4.30pm," Downing Street said in a statement. "In response to speculation we can confirm that he will not be going to Buckingham Palace tomorrow."
It is expected the election will be held on May 5 th.
Under election rules there must be at least 17 working days between the dissolution and polling day. That means that Mr Blair could still make the announcement on Tuesday, with dissolution on either Thursday or Friday.
It had originally been thought Mr Blair would make the announcement tomorrow that Parliament would dissolve on Thursday.
That would have left Friday clear for the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles before campaigning began in earnest next week.