Date:23/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/23/stories/2008112354961100.htm

International

U.K. to stimulate public spending

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Saturday dismissed reports he was planning a snap election to take advantage of Labour’s ratings as a result of his handling of the economic crisis.

An election is not due until 2010 but with Labour slowly catching with the Tories in opinion polls there is speculation that Mr. Brown could take a gamble next spring. Mr. Brown told the BBC that for now he was “100 per cent focused” on the economy. His remarks came as the government planned to announce a multi-million pound package of tax-cuts.