British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has refused to quash intense speculation that he could soon call a general election, saying he was simply getting on with the job.
On the first day of the Labour Party's annual conference in the seaside town of Bournemouth, he refused to be pinned down on a date for the election.
Mr Brown, who will address the conference tomorrow, did not rule out announcing at the five-day event that he would call for an election, instead indicating that the focus of his own speech would be policy.
Mr Brown added that whenever the time comes for a decision on the election, the main issues he would want to fight it on were the economy and public services.
Even though he has until May 2010 at the latest to call a general election, Mr Brown is reportedly being urged by aides to call for a vote and capitalise on his current popularity and weak opposition.
Meanwhile, a newspaper poll has put Labour six points ahead of his nearest rivals the Conservatives (39% versus 33%), with the Liberal Democrats on 19%.
