THURROCK MP Andrew Mackinlay has come out in favour of an early election, calling on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to act sooner rather than later if he decides to go to the country.

Election speculation is rife with the Prime Minister riding high in the polls following his succession to Tony Blair and on the back of what is perceived as a successful Labour conference.

However, Mr Mackinlay says that his leader runs the risk of an earlier mistake by a Labour PM.

A noted political historian, Mr Mackinlay says: "The election should be swift and immediate.

"The date should be October 25 and an announcement should be made in the next 48 hours, with an immediate dissolution.

"A minimum period would result in the "cheapest" election , in real terms , in modern political history.

"The Conservatives' war chest could not be spent or deployed in an election confined to the minimum statutory. Parties and candidates, nationally and locally, would only have time to distribute a very limited amount of paper!"

He warned Gordon Brown that: "The mistake Harold Wilson made in 1970, was not that he called an election but he allowed it to go on for too long! It needs to be short ,sharp and focused.

"Most observers consider that the 1970 election went on for two weeks too many and it was in the last days that the Labour lead evaporated."

What do you think? Should Gordon Brown go to the polls now? Please comment below.