Brown 'fears double poll defeat'

Mr Brown is "in charge" of the country after his holiday, Downing Street said

Gordon Brown wants to hold next year's European and English local elections on the same day because he is "terrified" of a double defeat, the Tories say.

The government is consulting on running two polls on the same day next June, saying this will save money and avoid confusion among voters.

But shadow local government minister Bob Neill said the prime minister was "running scared".

The dates were combined in 2004, the last time European elections were held.

The Department of Communities and Local Government is looking at doing so again but said a final decision had not yet been taken.

A spokesperson said: "The 2004 local elections were also held on the same date as the European elections, and voter participation increased in the latter.

"We want to see a modern, efficient and secure electoral system which is as convenient and as straightforward for the voter as possible...

"Combining these elections could make voting more convenient and increase participation by avoiding asking electors to vote on two separate occasions in the space of four weeks. "

'Hassle-free'

It wants to move elections for 34 English councils, scheduled for 7 May, back to 4 June, to coincide with the European vote.

The DCLG said this would help make voting "convenient and hassle-free".

Two separate campaigns would create "confusion for electors" and "complexities for administrators", its consultation document - put out in May - adds.

Under the 2007 Local Government Act, ministers can change local election dates by issuing an order, rather than having to pass a new act in Parliament.

Labour fared poorly in May's local elections and has also recently lost two parliamentary seats in by-elections, as well as the London mayoralty.

Mr Neill said: "Gordon Brown is clearly terrified of another bad set of results in these elections.

"You can be sure that if he was confident of holding on to Labour seats, he would hold the local and Euro elections on separate days.

"This is all about protecting Gordon's back. He is running scared and has bottled yet another election."

A DCLG spokeswoman said: "Our consultation on moving the date of local elections began on 20 May and closed on 11 August, and a final decision has yet to be made.

"However, this is not a new proposition - the 2004 local elections were also held on the same date as the European elections, and voter participation increased in the latter.

"We want to see a modern, efficient and secure electoral system which is as convenient and as straightforward for the voter as possible.

"While no decisions have been taken, combining these elections could make voting more convenient and increase participation by avoiding asking electors to vote on two separate occasions in the space of four weeks. "