Posted by: CNN Anchor and Correspondent Max Foster
Filed under: Debates •Election

Posted by: CNN Anchor and Correspondent Max Foster
Filed under: Profiles

Posted by: CNN Anchor and Correspondent Max Foster
Filed under: Profiles

Gordon Brown is becoming increasingly frustrated with what he calls the games show atmosphere around the current election campaign.

He concedes he cannot beat his opponents, Conservative leader David Cameron and Nick Clegg, who heads up the Liberal Democrats, on style - but claims he can beat them on substance.

Posted by: CNN Anchor and Correspondent Max Foster
Filed under: Election

It has become the defining theme of Britain's general election campaign and, if it continues, may merit a definition in the Oxford English Dictionary.

"Cleggmania" refers to the surge in support for Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats. He was the outsider, up against the two established leaders running much bigger parties.

But he emerged from the first leadership TV debate as the star of the show. Will Cleggmania translate into real power for the Lib Dems? Watch the video above...

Posted by: CNN Anchor and Correspondent Max Foster
Filed under: Debates •Election

Richard Nixon and John F Kennedy took part in the first U.S. TV debate – how will UK contenders fare? (Getty)

The most famous of all TV election debates was Richard Nixon vs John F Kennedy. It was noted that if JFK won it on TV, Nixon won it on radio. People are already making parallels between that debate and the first ever British version on Thursday evening.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been, rather unkindly, accused of having a great face for radio by the British tabloids - so he is the Nixon. David Cameron is the more charismatic JFK.

There is also a third player in the UK debates, Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats, who is already a winner for just getting an equal platform against the other two far more powerful party leaders.

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Posted by: CNN Anchor and Correspondent Max Foster
Filed under: Election

David Cameron launches the Conservative Party manifesto April 13 in London. (Getty Images)

As he unveiled the Conservative manifesto, David Cameron said the UK election is the "biggest call to arms this country has seen in a generation."

A bit dramatic perhaps but it's more sophisticated than it sounds.  Cameron is trying to redefine what the Conservative party is about. He says his would be a "new kind of government for Britain."

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Posted by: CNN Anchor and Correspondent Max Foster
Filed under: Election

UK Prime Minister launched the Labour Party manifesto Monday (AFP/Getty).

London, England – Driving into London today I was greeted by multiple smiling images of Gordon Brown, prime minister and leader of the Labour Party.

It has been noted more than once that his smile is not his best asset - which is perhaps why it features so prominently in the new poster campaign by the opposition Conservatives.

Each party is using what it can to define itself in an election where many voters are struggling to see the difference between them.

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Posted by: CNN Anchor and Correspondent Max Foster
Filed under: Election

Gordon Brown and David Cameron pictured last year. The UK election promises to be a close contest.

London, England - It took just 20 minutes but it was a moment in contemporary British history that will help define the next decade.

I was outside Buckingham Palace to see the Queen's helicopter drop her off in her back garden. She had been called back to London for a private audience with the prime minister and few people were left guessing what that audience was about.

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Posted by: CNN Anchor and Correspondent Max Foster
Filed under: General

LONDON, England - No confirmation yet, but if the election isn't called on Tuesday, a lot of carefully laid plans will be disrupted. The entire British political system and associated media are primed for what will be the starting gun for the tightest UK election race in years.

So what happens now? The Prime Minister has the final say on when the election will be held, but before he can make the announcement he will need to notify the Queen. CNN will be live outside Buckingham Palace from the early morning looking out for the prime ministerial limousine.

Once we see Gordon Brown heading through the palace gates we can be pretty sure he has made his mind up on an election. Buckingham Palace will then issue an official notice and, past experience suggests, the prime minister will make an announcement once he gets back to Downing Street.

Consitutional experts have told me the prime minister has toyed with the idea of going to parliament to get approval for an election, but as far as I am aware, no plans have been made for that this time round. I'm almost certain that Gordon Brown has alone made his mind up on the election and he will announce that on Tuesday.

It will then will be over to the British public to make up their own minds about who, if anyone, they want to replace him as prime minister.

Posted by: CNN Anchor and Correspondent Max Foster
Filed under: Election