Brown decides against November election

LONDON, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced Saturday he will not call for early parliamentary elections.

Brown said he believes the public understands his government acted “competently” in dealing with recent crises like the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

"But what I want to do is show people the vision that we have for the future of this country in housing and health and education and I want the chance, in the next phase of my premiership, to develop and show people the policies that are going to make a huge difference and show the change in the country itself," Brown said.

Recent polls have showed gains by the Conservatives following their party conference. Labor’s “Brown bounce” that followed the departure of Tony Blair has dissipated.

Conservative leader David Cameron said Brown had done a “humiliating climbdown,” The Daily Mail reported.

"This has robbed the people of this country for a chance for change," he told the British newspaper.

Brown’s decision means the next elections could be delayed until 2009.