'Bottler' Brown: Tories make hay
Updated on 08 October 2007
Labour is engaged in damage limitation as the Tories exploit the prime minister's decision not to call an election.
Senior cabinet allies of Gordon Brown have insisted that his decision not to call an autumn election after a fortnight of hints and nudges by Labour ministers has not done long-term damage to his reputation.
With critics accusing Mr Brown of running scared in the face of adverse polls, Justice Secretary Jack Straw admitted it would have been "ridiculous" not to have taken the polls into account.
The prime minister is due to make a statement this afternoon on British involvement in Iraq.
Gordon Brown could be forgiven for pulling a sickie this week.
Political commentators are using words like "bottler", "ditherer" and "weak" to describe Gordon Brown.
Gordon Brown could be forgiven for pulling a sickie this week. Today he faces a baying press pack at his monthly press conference.
This afternoon he will tell MPs about troop withdrawals. It will be marred by Conservative claims that he used the army for political purposes in a trip to Basra last week.
He might not get an easy ride with his own party when they meet tonight. Several are angry that election speculation got out of control.
Tomorrow Alistair Darling is expected to tell parliament that growth forecasts have been lowered.
David Cameron may decide not to shout "bottler" during PMQs, but it seems safe to assume Tory backbenchers will.
On Thursday the Conservatives will use a Commons debate to call for an EU referendum.
And later on the same day Gordon Brown will try to protect his so-called treaty "red lines" at a summit in Lisbon.
The accompanying report is by Zoe Conway
