Gordon Brown has lost his nerve - Campbell

11.33.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 7th Oct 2007

Gordon Brown has failed his first test as Prime Minister by failing to call a general election this autumn, according to the Liberal Democrats.

Following the news that there will not be a general election, Liberal Democrat leader Ming Campbell said:

"There's no doubt people will see this as a loss of nerve on the part of the prime minister.

"It follows the mishandled trip to Iraq which upset many people, including the announcement on troop numbers which turned out not to be all it seemed.

"His predecessor as Prime Minister promised to serve a full term and didn't. Gordon Brown should have called an election when he took office."

Commenting on the way the news that there will not be an election has emerged, Ming said:

"Labour is yet again spinning even with this announcement. The Prime Minister is not willing to face the barrage of questions the public have the right to expect him to face over the date of the next general election.

"The Prime Minister has belatedly put an end to the charade of last few weeks.

"He could have prevented needless speculation by making this announcement long before now.

"Gordon Brown has been acting in the interests of the Labour Party and not in the interests of the country."