An autumn election is becoming less and less likely

The chances of Gordon Brown opting for an early election are rapidly receding. The latest polls show the Tories level and behind by three respectively; hardly the kind of margin that is going to encourage Gordon Brown to go now when he has so much road to play with. Even before these polls were published, Douglas Alexander went on TV to rubbish rumours that an election would be called this week

It is not all good news for Team Cameron though, Ben Brogan reports that a deputy Tory treasurer has quit over the ‘lurch to the right’. This should guarantee Labour’s favourite soundbite gets some decent play in the media. While John Bercow has apparently signed up to do some work for Brown—he has not, though, defected.