Autumn General Election now odds-on

10.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 29th Sep 2007

Will there be an election soon?

Odds on an autumn general election at betting exchange Betfair have now moved 'odds on', indicating punters believe an election this year is likelier than not. Most high street bookmakers are no longer taking bets on the possibility. According to The Guardian Gordon Brown will hold a 'council of war' with his closest allies this weekend at which he is expected to make a final examination of the polling data before deciding whether to call an autumn election. If Mr Brown decides to go for an election on October 25, he would have to declare his intentions by Tuesday - the day before Mr Cameron's make-or-break speech at the Conservative conference in Blackpool. Most commentators view a November 1 polling day as more likely. This would enable parliament to return for two days, potentially enough time for an Iraq statement, an NHS review statement and the long-planned three-year spending review and pre-budget report before Parliament is dissolved