UK Chatters About Elections as Polls Narrow

As London returns from holiday, the press and the parliament are still whispering about when Gordon Brown will call a general election. Although he can delay until as late as 2010, the Prime Minister can hold a vote any time, and British papers are debating whether he may rush it in time for autumn, while his Labour party still enjoys a thinning popularity.

Brown enjoyed a huge lead in opinion polls upon his arrival at Number 10 three months ago, but the gap between Labour and Conservatives has narrowed in the past week. The Times analyzes the figures and concludes that Brown will probably wait to dissolve Parliament. Meanwhile the Independent discusses whether the PM's prerogative to call elections is undemocratic. (More Gordon Brown stories.)