Brown's first PM conference speech
Updated on 24 September 2007
He's waited a long time for this.
Walking the seafront at Bournemouth - buoyed by a wave of healthy polls - and about to make his first Conference speech as Labour leader.
So this is Gordon Brown's chance to set out new priorities to persuade delegates he really is a fresh start.
In a round of interviews this morning. he was asked whether he's about call a snap autumn election. And, forever cautious, he side-stepped the question - but didn't rule it out.
So the Prime Minister seems to be almost encouraging speculation among delegates here. Many are keen to try and catch the Tories off guard, particularly those in marginal constituencies. Stephen Ladyman is fighting a majority of just 664.
The Prime Minister must give 17 days notice for an election. So the earliest likely date would be October 25.
But he may wish to wait until parliament returns on October 8 before making the announcement.
In which case - the first possible date would be November 1.
But the clocks will have gone back by then. And the dark evenings would bring a low turnout.
Perhaps this is why there have only been four autumn elections since the war.
