(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-10-07 13:21

LONDON  - Prime Minister Gordon Brown ruled out calling an early election, putting an end to weeks of fevered speculation that he would soon seek a stronger mandate from the electorate.

Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) is seen in this handout photograph speaking to journalist Andrew Marr in a televised interview at his official residence in Downing Street in London, October 6, 2007. Brown was speaking in a pre-recording for the Andrew Marr BBC political television show, and is believed he is now not going to announce a snap autumn election. [Agencies]

Brown said Saturday that he wanted his government, in office for just over 100 days, to have time to show voters how it would transform public services and the economy. Opponents accused him of being afraid to face the public after a series of opinion polls suggested his electoral lead was evaporating.

"I'll not be calling an election," Brown told the British Broadcasting Corp. "I have a vision for change in Britain, and I want to show people how in government we're implementing it."

Brown replaced Tony Blair as prime minister in June, and does not have to call an election until May 2010. But there has been widespread speculation that he would call an early election to seek his own, five-year mandate and to increase the Labour Party's majority in Parliament.

Conservative leader David Cameron said the decision not to face voters was "a humiliating retreat."

"I think the prime minister has shown great weakness and indecision," he said.

Brown's reputation for staid competence, forged during a decade as Treasury chief, carried over into the first months of his premiership.

The taciturn Scot enjoyed a comfortable lead in polls over the summer thanks to his sure-footed handling of several potential crises, including the failed car bombings in London and Glasgow, floods in England and an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Even during recent financial jitters, which prompted a run on deposits at mortgage lender Northern Rock PLC, few people blamed Brown.

Early election talk intensified after Brown made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Tuesday and said British forces there would be cut by 1,000 by Christmas.

Brown scheduled a high-profile statement on Iraq to the House of Commons for Monday and a major Treasury announcement for Tuesday, leading many to suspect he planned to announce next week that an election would be held in November.

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