Gordon Brown conceded on Monday he could have damped intense speculation about a snap election sooner than he did, but denied his decision not to go to the country was influenced by unfavourable opinion polls.

UK Daily View

Video: Chris Adams on the PM’s credibility after election climbdown

Mr Brown waited until the weekend to announce there would be no early election, unleashing a torrent of critical media coverage and allowing opposition parties to brand him weak and indecisive. ”Your weekend has been better than mine,” he ruefully told journalists at his regular monthly media conference.