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No early election in Britain, Brown says

LONDON - Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Saturday ruled out calling an early election, ending weeks of speculation that he would soon seek a stronger mandate for his government.

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

His announcement comes after opinion polls this week showed the main opposition Conservatives closing the gap with Brown's Labor Party.

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 Labor's majority in Parliament.

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

But the Conservatives surged after leader David Cameron gave a strong speech to his party's annual conference this week, in which he made eye-catching promises, including a cut in inheritance tax.

[Last modified October 7, 2007, 01:57:14]