Cameron: Brown has shown great weakness and indecision

7pm: What the Tory leader said:

“The reason why the Prime Minster has cancelled this election is because the Conservative Party is making the arguments about changes this country needs and people are responding very positively to our proposals.  He has shown great weakness and indecision - it is quite clear that he has not been focused on running the country and he has been trying to spin his way into a General Election campaign, he has now had to make a humiliating retreat.  The big disappointment for me, and I think for millions of people in the country, is that we now have to wait for a possible two years before we can get the real change we need in our country - change to improve our NHS, change to raise standards in schools, change to give people opportunity in their lives.  The Prime Minister says he has a vision for change - well put that vision to people in a General Election - this is not a vision for change, this is just a strategy to cling to office.”

Click continue to see the evidence for how Brown built himself up for this fall, compiled by CCHQ...

1. Brown has spent his political life arguing that a change of PM should mean calling a General Election. Within days of John Major becoming Prime Minister in 1990, Gordon Brown called for a General Election: ‘Should it not be the people, as a whole, who decides who will lead the country? The truth is that what the country needs is not a leadership election, but a General Election. And the sooner it comes the better' (Article for the Daily Record by Gordon Brown, 15 November 1990)

2. General Election Coordinator appointed before he even became Prime Minister. Three days before he became Prime Minister, Gordon Brown announced: ‘Douglas Alexander will be the General Election Coordinator so that we are ready not just to fight but to win a General Election’ (Speech at Special Labour Party Conference, 24 June 2007).

3. Manifesto work begun within two weeks of taking office.

Labour announced that Ed Miliband was overseeing the Labour manifesto and began the task ‘actively’ and ‘intensively’ in July (BBC News, 15 July 2007). Douglas Alexander quickly began giving presentations to the Cabinet on election planning (The Guardian, 18 July 2007) and Brown ordered an ‘election summit at Chequers to put Cabinet Ministers on a war footing’ in mid-July (The Mirror, 18 July 2007)

4. Reorganised the entire Party structure; appointed an Election Director; declared an ‘Election Alert’ for all party workers; and hoarded staff into Labour HQ. Gordon Brown ordered a ‘complete review of Labour's organisation’ in late July to prepare for an election (The Times, 1 August 2007) and appointed lobbyist Jon Mendelsohn as General Election Director in August. Martin Salter MP, Vice-Chairman of the Labour Party, announced: ‘I can confirm that the party has been put on alert for an early election that could take place as soon as this autumn’ (The Times, 1 August 2007).

In September, Labour announced that lobbyists and PR experts had been recruited and thirty new posts had been created including ‘graphic designers, researchers, policy and press officers, a copy writer, direct mail officer and administrators’ (BBC News, 27 September 2007; The Times, 28 September 2007).

5. Fundraising brought forward and donors announced: . In August, a ‘senior Labour Minister’ announced: ‘We are bringing our fundraising forward so we are ready for an October 25 poll’ (The People, 26 August 2007).

a. All Fundraising Brought Forward

b. Millionaires Ready.

Senior Labour donor and Brown ally Lord Paul announced in a newspaper interview ‘if there is an election and the money is wanted, whatever I can pay I will pay’ (The Times, 15 August 2007).

c. Unions ‘war chest’.

The Mirror reported superunion Unite had set aside a £26 million ‘war chest’ for Labour and said it was prepared to fund an early poll (The Mirror, 20 August 2007).

6. Hired an Advertising Agency and cancelled all leave. Douglas Alexander, Labour's general election co-ordinator, announced on 13 September: ‘we have appointed Saatchi & Saatchi and we are delighted to have them on board’ (Labour Party Press Release, 13 September 2007). Staff on the Labour account Saatchi & Saatchi were reportedly ordered to cancel all holidays booked for October (The Independent, 22 September 2007).

7. Boasted to newspapers ‘conditions are right’ and everyone is ‘convinced we will win’. Brownites told journalists: ‘most of his inner circle believes the conditions are right and that such favourable terms may not be on offer again’ (The Express, 20 September 2007) and ‘all our research suggests we would win and win well’ (Mail on Sunday, 23 September 2007).

8. Declared ‘we are ready’ and ‘on an election footing’; then issued campaign packs. Douglas Alexander announced as the Labour Party conference opened in an interview with The Guardian: ‘There have been significant donations in recent weeks, notwithstanding our financial difficulties in the past, we have been working hard and we will be ready whenever the Prime Minister decides to call the election’ (The Guardian, 22 September 2007).

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Ed Balls stoked election fever: ‘I opened the new campaign office in my constituency a week ago today and told my local party it is important we were on a general election footing’ (Sunday Telegraph, 23 September 2007). The same weekend of the Labour conference a ‘campaign toolkit’ was published. Peter Watt, Labour's general secretary, announced in the introduction: ‘The preparations for the next general election are now well under way’.

9. Deliberately refused to dampen speculation when asked. Gordon Brown deliberately refused to rule out an election or do anything to dampen speculation when directly asked by Andrew Marr. He replied: ‘whenever the time comes for an election these will be the issues… whenever the time comes for a decision I think the issues, of course, are clear…. that's what I think I will be trying to show the people of Britain this week. And that's what I think all the ministers in the government, whether it's the education, or the schools, or the health, or the housing minister, they'll be showing what we can offer for the future of this country’ (Sunday AM, 23 September 2007).

10. Slapped down those who implied there will be no autumn election; then got his closest ally to declare the greater risk was not calling an election. After Ed Balls appeared to pour cold water on the prospects for an election by suggesting that the party would need ‘months’ to lay out its new policies (Press Association, 23 September 2007), Labour spin doctors immediately telephoned journalists and ‘insisted he had not meant to dampen speculation’ (Daily Mail, 24 September 2007).

Ed Balls then started to claim that far from being a risk, not calling an autumn election would be riskier, saying: ‘It's a very interesting question as to where the gamble really lies’ (BBC News, 26 September 2007).

Comments

[Sally Roberts]

We should be a little careful how we deal with this news as it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Brown could change his mind!

[MrB]

!BBC BIAS ALERT!

Their political analyst says the polls are drifting in the "Wrong direction".

Or is this just me being petty?

[Paul D]

MrB, yes and no - depends on the context. If he's talking from Brown's POV, the "wrong direction" is acceptable - as it is the wrong direction for him. If it's a more general report then it is bias

[James Burdett]

Sally - If he did that he would be out on his ear. He knows that unless he is totally insane.

[Tony Makara]

David Cameron is right. Gordon Brown has shown that he has no faith in the judgement of the British people. Gordon Brown has shown he doesn't believe the British voter would return him to office.

David Cameron was prepared to fight an election when he was eleven points behind in the polls, in contrast Gordon Brown didn't have the courage to fight when he was eleven points ahead. That shows the difference between the two men. David Cameron is a fighter. Gordon Brown is a coward.

[David Walsh]

Let's hope that the Party stays united in the coming weeks and really takes advantage of the momentum that has built up.

[ShepleyTory]

Clearly Cameron deserves credit for his courage and clear thinking over the past few months. As a party now which rediscovered its unity and ability to win in Blackppol we need to keep the pressure up.

We need to continue to campaign as though an election is imminent, not become complacent. Whenever the election comes, its still difficult for us to win that outright majority because of the way the boundaries are drawn.

We need to make the next 2 years count, so that when we do go to the polls, we make it count.

[Graeme Archer]

Also Tony: David Cameron is a winner. Brown is a loser.

As Jimmy Saville so presciently and nearly remarked:
Clunk Crap every trick!

[Rob]

>Gordon Brown has shown that he has no faith in the judgement of the British people.

I think that's a powerful theme. We should link this to the EU Referendum and heavily lay the charge that this is Prime Minister, not even elected by his own party, that will just not give the people a change to have their say.

[MrB]

Yougov poll in the times will also show an advance, according to Anthony Wells as UK Polling Report.

[Alan Collins]

David Cameron looked genuinely angry during the BBC interview.

[David Belchamber]

Brown has demonstrated a huge character defect (which many suspected) by his decision not to call an election.
I am sure that ConHome contributors can help compile a list of other examples of his weakness: the famous Granita episode, not standing up to Tony Blair whenever he felt that Blair was making a big mistake, by not resigning after much publicised bust-ups with Blair to start with.
He can't now go back on today's announcement about an Autumn election without handing it to the tories on a plate, but he might call one next year if things went right for him (a week is a long time etc).
We must use this reprieve to get our act together, especially by building up support in the marginals and by checking and doublechecking our sums. We must not be blown out of the water by Labour by promising more than the country can afford.

[Eveleigh]

More CLUCKING than clunking I would say Mr Brown - he's laid an egg!

[David Belchamber]

Brown has demonstrated a huge character defect (which many suspected) by his decision not to call an election.
I am sure that ConHome contributors can help compile a list of other examples of his weakness: the famous Granita episode, not standing up to Tony Blair whenever he felt that Blair was making a big mistake, by not resigning after much publicised bust-ups with Blair to start with.
He can't now go back on today's announcement about an Autumn election without handing it to the tories on a plate, but he might call one next year if things went right for him (a week is a long time etc).
We must use this reprieve to get our act together, especially by building up support in the marginals and by checking and doublechecking our sums. We must not be blown out of the water by Labour by promising more than the country can afford.

[Tony Makara]

David Belchamber, very true indeed. Gordon Brown was even dithering over Northern Rock until goaded into acting. The clunking fist is really a clucking chicken. Gordon Brown is not the man to have at the helm in a crisis. I think this will prove to be a turning point for Brown, it will undermine him greatly and the Conservative party must never let the public forget Brown the bottler.

[Christopher George]

It is in the end a demonstration of Gordon's indecisive nature which no doubt wilkl now be spun as "sensible caution". However we now must not only display and continue untiy but must in parliament and out expose all the errors and omissions of the last 10 years, and, sadly the next 2, and be a determined and effective opposition.

[Neil Reddin]

Spot the rush by all to join the "I Told You So" Club

[jonboy]

Be very careful with all this gloating.
Brown has said that there probably will not be another election for 2 years.
If Cameron falls badly behind in the polls again and that is not beyond the realms of possibility then the right wing will oust him as they will not fear Brown jumping them with an unexpected election.
You have seen how fast the polls can and do change, Brown will have ample time now to really go to town on George Osborne's tax promises.
He has forced Cameron to show his hand and I have a feeling this is what he intended.
This euphoria will be short lived.

[Radical Tory]

jonboy makes a good point. We can now argue for change within our party and more sensible policies without fear of an election. This is good news. We have time to push Cameron into being a tory.

[Jennifer Wells]

I don't agree with you RT but at least you have the courage to post. Moral minority and Traditional tory have disappeared. They're as cowardly as Brown!

[jonboy]

What's to stop Darling from putting into the next budget the suggestions that Osborne made regarding the Inheritance tax or first time buyers or stamp duty?
Brown has had no problem backing down out of this fiasco as this could be claimed was hiped up by the press.
So what qualms do you think he will have if he still thinks these suggestions have legs before the next election?
I for one do not think he has played the blinder a lot here seems to think, but then only time will tell.
Bear in mind they are in power all we can do is talk about it.
That's the bottom line.
The voters will not give a damn which party does it as long as it can be done.
Remember Brown has the last word on everything and what makes you so sure Cameron will still be leader in 3 years?

[Comstock]

Well once again, what a long time a week is in politics.....

Adam Boulton on Sky has just laid into Brown- 'failed stratagy' , 'indecisive', ' shoddy spectacle', claiming all his good will has gone and he should sack all his advisory team.

I've never seen anything like it- aren't politcal correspondants on TV supposed to be unbiased?

Mind you I'm struggling to argue with Boulton,tbh.....

[Don]

Jonboy's right. Labour has smoked out Tory policies and will now spend two years trashing them at every turn with, no doubt, the willing support of much of the media especially the BBC.

Furthermore, Brown will now sign-up to the EU 'Treaty' and very probably introduce legislation that will make it virtually impossible for the Tories to ever amend the 1972 act WH spoke of in his speech.

The other issue is how long the Tory party can hold it together before internal divisions break out once more. Furthermore, it would only take another Tory defection to Labour to seriously undermine much of what has recently been achieved. I bet Labour already has a list of potential defectors and will start work on them very shortly.

If the Tory party is to succeed, it must now start being an effective opposition (not something it's been very good at these last 10 years) and keep up a sustained attack on Brown and Labour's record. Oh, and please, no more standing ovations for Labour

[Don]

Jonboy's right. Labour has smoked out Tory policies and will now spend two years trashing them at every turn with, no doubt, the willing support of much of the media especially the BBC.

Furthermore, Brown will now sign-up to the EU 'Treaty' and very probably introduce legislation that will make it virtually impossible for the Tories to ever amend the 1972 act WH spoke of in his speech.

The other issue is how long the Tory party can hold it together before internal divisions break out once more. Furthermore, it would only take another Tory defection to Labour to seriously undermine much of what has recently been achieved. I bet Labour already has a list of potential defectors and will start work on them very shortly.

If the Tory party is to succeed, it must now start being an effective opposition (not something it's been very good at these last 10 years) and keep up a sustained attack on Brown and Labour's record. Oh, and please, no more standing ovations for Labour

[Ted]

jonboy
- we didn't show all our election goodies just enough to frighten Brown. Yes he can steal our policies but that would be obvious especially after trashing them.
Also Brown has to get through two years of low growth, credit squeeze having promised £35bn of extra spending in last three months. That means he'll have to use stealth taxes or break his golden rules. No-one trusts him now so exposing those will be easy.

[jonboy]

No Ted, I disagree, Brown is a master of political intrigue.
He will take the best, bat them around a bit then do it.
What he cannot do he will rubbish, remember political animals can see what he is doing the average voter does not and whatsmore does not care as long as they get what they want.
I asked my partner tonight if anything she has heard today has caused her to altered her mind.
She says she is more interested in the Rugby score and could not care a damn about who does what in politics, she will decide that nearer an election in the meantime she has heard enough of wall to wall cover of this stupid non-story. It is not life changing as far as she is concerned.
That's how Mrs average sees it.

[Richard Tyndall]

Don,

No Parliament may bind its successors.

No matter what Brown might try to do, there is no way he could prevent a future Conservative Government (or any other) with the political will, amending or repealing the 1972 ECA.

As someone extremely critical of Cameron I have to say that whilst he has not yet convinced me he is a true Conservative, he has at least made some good decisions this week and has proved that, for better or worse, he is capable of winning.

I hope he maintains it.

[Janet]

Gordon Brown can only have considered having an election because he did not feel that he had a mandate from the people to govern. What has changed? - The fact that even more people are now vocal as to their opposition to him as Prime Minister. Hardly a man who is serving his country, more a man desperate to hold on to as much power as he can for his own glory for as long as he can. If he felt a need for a mandate to govern whilst dithering about an election it is needed even more now.

[carol42]

The great clucking fist! I love it

[James Burdett]

To all those who think that Labour have smoked out our entire policy cupboard and will spend the next how ever long laying into it, I offer this thought. The policy that is credited with this dramatic turnaround is the IHT proposal, now Labour have had a week to do damage to it. Have they? Not a jot of damage. So what on earth makes them or anybody think that what they have failed to do in five days they will succeeed in doing in the next however long? The best time to derail a policy is when it is new, if you can not discredit in a day you can't discredit period.

[Jon Gale]

I did wonder if the McCavity, over-cautious, 'always backs down' image of Brown was a media invention...

But its true! He's a coward! Coward! coward! Coward!

Ha ha ha hahahahahahahah.

And now the whole country can see it: Wont hold a refrendum on the EU constition, plays politics with troop withdrawls from Iraq, bottles a general election he's spent months building up, praises Margaret Thatcher despite his past hatred of her, and if he steals Tory policy on IHT it'll be obvious he is desperate!

[Praguetory]

Editor, here's some more proof of respected journalists being given an election date by senior Labour officials.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7020000/newsid_7028900?redirect=7028953.stm&news=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1