Gordon Brown appears to be giving serious thought to a snap general election in May or June next year. Speculation about a spring dash to the polls intensified after he asked ministerial colleagues at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting to consider how to build on Labour’s recent progress.

Meanwhile what has long been seen as an obstacle to an early election – the state of Labour’s finances – appears marginally less of a concern. Labour on Tuesday claimed it had “turned a corner” financially after accounts showed it had cut its debts by £2m last year.