Tories predict snap election

Tory chairman Liam Fox predicted today that Tony Blair could "cut and run" and call a snap election.

One date pencilled in by Mr Fox's team is April 21 and campaign workers have been ordered on to full alert.

Mr Fox said in an interview the Evening Standard: "I believe there are a number of reasons why Labour needs to get this election out of the way early.

"They are over-borrowing and it is becoming more apparent they have got to raise taxes. Retail sales growth in the last quarter was the lowest for six years and mortgage approvals are 38% down while mortgage arrears are growing.

"Council tax bills will be a nasty shock and a revaluation of business rates will kick in during April."

A Tory spokeswoman said of a snap poll: "This is something we are thinking of as a possibility, although obviously nobody can predict with certainty when the election will be."