Michael Portillo believes that now is the time to call a general election, because

the damage that the Conservatives have sustained over recent weeks goes well beyond the sharp reduction in their opinion poll lead. Gordon Brown’s rehabilitation as a supposedly competent man of action has blown apart the Tories’ election strategy and no plan B exists.

But, no, it’s not.

If Gordon Brown called an election now – in the midst of a recession, an just as his poll ratings had begun to rise due to fact that he had “done” something – even if it had yet to cause any form of benefit at all – and the Conservatives lack any real narrative to suggest instead, he would be seen as oportunistic.

Brown chickened out of an election this time last year and since he has until May 2010 when he can leave it until, to select now of all times would be a massive miscalculation.

The public do not respect opportunistic poltiicans, and rather tend to move against them. If Brown was to use the slight bounce he has had recently in the polls [which still gives Cameron a small majority ] as an opportunity to call an election, the electorate will call it as it is – opportunistic, and vote aginst him to punish him.

A snap election now would not help Brown hold on to power, but just turn the electorate even more aginst politicians altogether, seeing them as even more sleazy and grasping as ever. They won’t appreciate being asked to make a deicison for next four years in the middle of a financial crisis.

Thus, a snap election aint gonna happen.