How many minutes are left on the election countdown clock?

John

11.47, Gordon's a bottler.

Toby Belch

The botched Iraq trip must have put a few minutes on.

Ted

Thought it was cut and dried until poor Ainsworth was surgically dissected by Paxman. So Gordon says "hope they will be home by Christmas" and we find that they haven't gone to Iraq yet so its actually "they will still be home". Think the press might have turned against Our Gord

Hoi Polloi

Gordon goofed today but it was the sort of goof that gets the political nerds like us over excited. Everything he's doing looks like a square on a grid and he's obviously got absolute confidence in the strength of his fundamental message and campaign rationale. He's now that far committed it's difficult to see him pulling back and humiliating himself. Cameron's speech, even if it is brilliant, will be remembered by Tories and some excitable journos but will be either not noticed or soon forgotten by the average voter.11.58

Tiberius

I don't think Brown has decided. He will wait for Cameron's speech, ensuing media headlines (which may depend on the McCann case, the Diana inquest, or further revelations from Ann Robinson's divorce as much as the Iraq row), and what I assume will be a number of polls over the weekend. I'd say it's as early as 11.46, and Gordon will clunk-fist the cuckoo into submission before he can ring in the new day. Bringing forward the announcements will simply be held out as "the normal business of government".

carol42

I hope he goes and loses his seat in Scotland. Wouldn't that be a delight

James

Going on past performance, Brown will bottle it and deny us an election.Go for 11:45

Mike

It depends on Labour's private polling and the media reaction to Cameron's speech. But the "nods, winks and cynicism" have gone too far and Brown will look like a fool if he bottles out leading to the wounding accusation that "he doesn't even think he can win an election during his honeymoon and when he's 11 points ahead in the polls". 11.59 and 50 seconds

Oscar Miller

I'm with Hoi Polloi for the same reasons. I started out believing this was all one big bluff to unsettle the Conservatives, but the Iraq stunt convinced me he's going to go for it. Even tho' the photo op backfired a bit I don't think it will damage Brown in the longer term. There's plenty of people gullible enough to believe he was 'just getting on with the job' and the fuss is Tory spin. Cameron's speech is not nearly as important as the pack make out. In fact if you can make a speech as bad as Brown's was and still get a poll bounce, Cameron could make a brilliant speech but get no result. It isn't fair - but what's fair got to do with it? So 11.58.

Tiberius

That's a very good summary, Oscar, but Brown will not put a 60+ majority on the line. If Guido, for example, is saying these recent polls are unrepresentative, will Gordon really take the leap? So much depends on media coverage and reaction the conference between tomorrow and Sunday, I think.

albert hammond bootleg

11:48

Mr Brown has too much to loose. Polls are fickle and the tories have had a good week. The european treaty hangs in the air like stale tabacco and Alex Salmond has a stack of photographs showing Gordon Brown and Mrs Thatcher entering Number 10 together.

Still I've been proved wrong before

Peter

Gordon Brown has waited 10 long years for his job and had it only 3months. Would he risk an election now? (in November of all months)I think not.

Tiberius

The cuckoo has been well and truly clunk-fisted!

Oscar Miller

It isn't fair - but what's fair got to do with it? So 11.58. Hmmm - I was wrong. And it's one of those very rare occasions I'm delighted to admit it.

David Barnett

I suppose it's about 3.30 pm on the day before.