UK awaits election announcement

Blair told ministers to ignore opinion polls

LONDON, England -- UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is believed to be ready to announce a date for a general election following a meeting of ministers on Monday.

The ballot, which could be called on Tuesday, is widely expected to be held on June 7.

AUDIO CNN's Robin Oakley: Blair has benefited from delaying the election 499 K/46 sec. AIFF or WAV sound The economy has ticked over nicely for Labour 499 K/46 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Conservatives will use euro-sceptic discourse in their campaign 661 K/61 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Financial Times' Brian Groom: Blair wants to make the election look closer than it is 698 K/64 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

Blair is due to meet Queen Elizabeth II -- who is always consulted about the election date -- on Tuesday for his regular weekly appointment with the monarch and it is believed he will ask her to dissolve parliament ahead of the poll.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn, while not commenting on a date as he left the meeting of ministers, did indicate what had been discussed.

"We will fight this campaign, whenever it comes, as if it were on a knife edge," Milburn said. "We are not going to take a single vote for granted."

Blair's Labour Party, which won power in a 1997 landslide, is heavily favoured to win a new election.

The most recent surveys gave Blair a lead of nearly 20 points over the Conservative opposition, led by William Hague.

Britain's Press Association quoted Blair's official spokesman as saying the prime minister had told ministers: "Forget the polls and commentators, this is going to be a far tougher fight than people imagine."

Schools and hospitals would again top the party's spending and reform priority list, the spokesman said.

Hague's Conservatives are planning for victory

Blair wanted ministers to set out "with honesty and humility" the Government's record and its determination to improve services for everyone -- "not just the few".

Hague was confident on Monday, saying: "We are planning for victory; we are ready to win. We are going to fight an extremely energetic campaign."

The expected election date had been May 3, but in early April at the height of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak the government refrained from calling a general election.

Blair has already announced that local elections will go ahead on June 7.

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