Brown refuses to give us a snap election 'because it would be chaos if
the Conservatives win'
By Nicola Boden
Last updated at 5:48 PM on 20th May 2009
Gordon Brown slipped up today by claiming a snap General Election would
cause chaos because the Conservatives might win.
The Tory leader immediately jumped on the gaffe, in a fiery Prime
Minister's Questions, proclaiming it an admission he would lose if he
went to the country.
David Cameron insists the only way to draw a line under the expenses
scandal is to dissolve Parliament and hold a General Election now.
But Mr Brown claimed this morning that would be 'chaos' at a time when
Britain is battling a deep recession and the country is reeling from the
expenses row.
In a blitz of media interviews, he said: 'Do you really want to see
tomorrow, in the midst of a recession, while the Government is dealing
with this, the chaos of an election?
'There will be an appropriate time to have an election, but at the
moment I think people want us to get on, and get on with the job.'
Pressed on what he meant in the Commons, he declared: 'What would cause
chaos would be if a Conservative government was elected.'
The House erupted at the comment, to which Mr Cameron joyfully replied:
'So there we have it - the first admission he thinks he's going to
lose.'
He added: 'I know the Prime Minister is frightened of elections but how
can he believe that in the fourth year of a Parliament, in one of the
oldest democracies in the world, that a General Election could bring
chaos? Have another go at a better answer.'
Mr Brown eventually claimed Tory plans for public spending cuts would
cause chaos in terms of the UK's recovery from recession.
His gaffe came as:
* Lib Dem MP Phil Willis said he had received a death threat after
claims on a flat where his daughter now lives were unveiled this
morning;
* Tory MP Anthony Steen, who claimed more than £80,000 for work on
his £1million mansion, was said to be standing down at the next
election;
* Margaret Moran became the third Labour MP referred to a 'star
chamber' for claiming £22,500 to fix dry rot on her husband's house;
* Communities Secretary Hazel Blears' job appeared to be hanging by
a thread after the Prime Minister said her claims were 'totally
unacceptable'
* Commons Leader Harriet Harman further outlined emergency reforms
of the expense system to 'put the reputation of Parliament above
reproach';
* Former Labour minister Elliot Morley has stepped aside from being
chair of the Energy and Climate Change Committee while his claims are
investigated;
* Peers and campaigners called for Speaker Michael Martin not to be
elevated to the Lords after his historic resignation yesterday.
During question time, Mr Brown insisted MPs had show humility and take
time to 'sort out the system' in the wake of the expenses row.
Mr Cameron shot back: 'Doesn't the Prime Minister understand that the
best way to show some humility is to ask the people who put us here.
'The Prime Minister is so hopelessly out of touch. How can the answer to
a crisis of democracy be an unelected Prime Minister?'
He pointed out the U.S. election was at the height of the financial
crisis, and that there have also been recent elections in India, South
Africa and New Zealand.
'We won't end the paralysis just by electing a new Speaker or even
setting new rules. We have got to give the public their voice and the
country the chance of a fresh start,' he declared.
Mr Brown said: 'What would cause paralysis is Conservative spending cuts
that would make it impossible for our economy to move forward.'
But the Tory leader insisted not calling an election would just show the
country 'the arrogance of a Prime Minister who won't let the people
decide'.
'Two years ago you promised us a fresh start. Remember what you said
outside Downing Street: a Government of integrity and decency. Well that
died with Damian McBride,' he said.
'You promise to renew trust in Parliament. Where's that promise today?
You promised prudence, economic stability, a big house building
programme. None of these things are happening. You call elections chaos,
I call them change. Why can't we have one?'
As it stands, Gordon Brown must call an election by next June at the
latest. Opinion polls indicate the Government is set for oblivion
whenever he does go the country.
Party sources predict up to 50 Labour MPs could face deselection before
a poll because of disciplinary action over their expense claims.
Its National Executive Committee yesterday agreed plans for a new 'star
chamber' to assess MPs' expense claims.
Any found to have abused the system will be barred from Government and
the Cabinet and could be banned from standing at the next election.
Mr Brown admitted today: 'There are many cases where people will be
suspended and people will have to stand down and not be candidates at
the next election.'
His spokesman, when asked to clarify why he will not call a snap
election, said he believed action had to be taken on reforming the
expenses system took priority.
'That is the best way of restoring public trust and confidence. That
doesn't mean that, when the time comes, MPs won't be held to account by
their own electorate,' he said.
'The logic of the Prime Minister's position is that it is important that
senior politicians such as himself show leadership and drive forward the
reforms that are necessary to the political system.'
Labour is already facing a difficult by-election in Glasgow North East
this summer after the resignation of Speaker Michael Martin yesterday.
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