3 September 2007
Gordon Brown is toying with an autumn election as he seeks to persuade the country that his takeover from Tony Blair marks a fundamental change in the Government's direction.

Closer examination suggests that although the names have changed, the products remain pretty much the same.

After all Brown is the architect of Labour's domestic policies for the last 10 years.

Higher taxes, wasteful spending, hospital closures and deficits, school failure, rising violent crime, lower pensions - all these disasters can be laid at Brown's door.

As for democracy and integrity, Brown signed up to Blair's manifesto pledge of a referendum on the European constitution. But Mr Brown no longer wants to give the people a vote. He fears he will lose if he puts this blueprint for more powers for Brussels to a test of public opinion.

David Cameron's Conservatives are the only force for real change in Britain. Sadly, the LibDems have shown they are a 'me-too' party, too readily supporting Labour's failed domestic policies.

In the last few days, Mr Cameron has pledged tough action to deal with the teenage gangs responsible for nearly 20 gun and knife murders of young people in London alone and the callous shooting of little Rhys Jones in Liverpool.

And he has made clear he will give a referendum on Europe and impose tight curbs on new immigration.

These are the kind of changes people want to see after a decade of Labour misrule. As election speculation mounts, Conservatives will be bringing forward more ideas for change over the next weeks.