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Brown Under Fire for U-Turn on Elections

PM ditched snap vote when it looked like Labour would lose

By Asta Hostetter,  Newser User

Posted Oct 7, 2007 4:30 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Gordon Brown has a new nickname: “bottler,” British slang for someone who’s lost their nerve at the last minute. He's facing heavy criticism for the unpopular decision not to hold a snap general election this autumn after learning that his Labor party lags 6 points behind the Torries in polls and would risk losing its majority, the Guardian reports

The Torries' edge is chalked up to their proposed tax break for property worth more than £1 million. Brown has tried to brush off criticism that postponing the election until 2009 ignores the will of the people. It has, in his words, been a rough season: “We have had terrorism, we have had floods, we have had financial crisis.”

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown makes a speech on financial...
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown makes a speech on financial...   (Getty Images)
Government Decision Expected On Euro
Government Decision Expected On Euro   (Getty Images)
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Leicester City Football Club's stadium, the Walkers Stadium Wednesday Sept. 12, 2007. The European Commission on Wednesday Sept. 12, 2007 recommended ending budget sanctions against Britain as its budget deficit slid under a 3 percent limit in the financial year 2006 to 2007. EU...
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Leicester City Football Club's stadium, the Walkers Stadium Wednesday Sept. 12, 2007. The European Commission on Wednesday Sept. 12, 2007 recommended ending budget...   (Associated Press)
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown makes a speech on financial...
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown makes a speech on financial...   (Getty Images)
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) shakes hands with President...
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) shakes hands with President...   (Getty Images)
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"B" entry in online British slang dictionary
A Dictionary of Slang

BBC Bio of Brown up to his election
BBC

 
Gordon Brown • Labour • Britain • Parliament • Torry • election

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