Cameron wants snap election
Updated on 30 September 2007
The Conservative party leader calls on Gordon Brown to announce an early general election.
"Stop dithering" - David Cameron's challenge to Gordon Brown today as he called on the prime minister to announce a snap election.
The Conservative leader, in Blackpool for his party's annual conference, said Mr Brown needs a mandate from the British people after succeeding Tony Blair as prime minister.
With his party in the doldrums in the opinion polls, Mr Cameron outlined some eye-catching policies he hopes will appeal to voters, including scrapping taxes for families and first-time buyers and introducing airline pollution duty on flights.
David Cameron knows this week is critical. The Tories need to boost their ratings, or Gordon Brown might decide to go for a snap election.
Cameron knows the Tories need to boost their ratings this week, or Gordon Brown might go for a snap election.
But the Conservative party meets under a cloud of bad opinion polls. The leadership had thought Gordon Brown would be unpopular with the voters, and they have been shocked by his approval ratings.
Gordon Brown, meanwhile, will be watching whether the Conservatives in Blackpool can revive their fortunes before he decides whether or not to call a general election.