Cameron marks 'non-election day'

Mr Brown called off announcing an election earlier this month

The Conservatives have launched a critical poster campaign to mark Gordon Brown's decision not to call a 1 November general election.

The poster, entitled "Today has been cancelled", says: "We apologise for the delay to the change Britain needs."

In a speech to mark its release, David Cameron claimed "the tide of history" had turned against Mr Brown and "soon there will be a new team in charge".

Mr Brown decided against a November election after weeks of speculation.

The Labour Party had been put on full election standby, and Mr Brown's decision not to hold an election came after a Conservative bounce in opinion polls at the end of their party conference last month.

Change may have been delayed but - I promise you this - change is on its way David Cameron

Mr Brown said at the time he would not be calling an autumn poll because he wanted a chance to show the country his "vision for change" and to develop his policies further.

He insisted he had had a duty to consider calling an election, and said he had always planned to take a decision at the end of the conference season.

But Mr Cameron accused him of being a "bottler" and said the PM was treating people like fools by denying that opinion polls had forced a change of mind.

These services are now delayed until the election of a Conservative government Tory poster

The poster, released on the date pencilled in by those in the Labour Party who wanted an election, says: "We are sorry to inform you that the general election planned for today has been cancelled."

It then lists a raft of Tory policies that would have been implemented should the Conservatives have come to power.

It ends: "These services are now delayed until the election of a Conservative government."

'Bureaucrat-in-chief'

In a speech to Tory candidates in his Oxfordshire constituency, Mr Cameron said there was a "sea change" going on in Britain similar to the ones that occurred in 1979, when Margaret Thatcher came to power, and 1997, when Tony Blair was elected.

"The tide of ideas has turned, leaving Gordon Brown on the wrong side of history," said the Conservative leader.

The age of "top-down" government, with central targets and initiatives, created by Labour was a "lumbering, clunking anachronism," said Mr Cameron.

But he said Mr Brown - who he dubbed Labour's "bureaucrat-in-chief" - was "never going to change".

"He is never going to give up top-down targets and central control because that is all he knows," said Mr Cameron.

"It's his nature, it's philosophy, but unfortunately for him, it is history."

'Whiff of decay'

The Tory leader said there was now "an unmistakeable whiff of decay about this government".

"In place of vision there is just the desire to hang to power.

"It wouldn't be so bad if they were half way competent but they are not. They are hapless and hopeless - constantly buffeted around by events.

"And today could have been the day we put them out of their misery. Well, it wasn't to be.

"But cheer up, they can't hang on forever. Soon there will be a new team in charge. Soon we will see the dawn of the post-bureaucratic age.

"Change may have been delayed but - I promise you this - change is on its way."