Live Blogging Gordon Brown's Press Conference

Adam Boulton puts first question. Brown: If I were being honest with you, yes I did consider holding an election. But I want time to put my vision for the country in place. I take full responsibility for everything that has happened. Everything that happens in Downing Street is my responsibility.

Nick Robinson: You could have put your vision at any state. You listen to people when you agree but you deny them an opportunity to vote when you disagree. Brown: Wanted to wait until the end of the party conference season and then put speculation to an end. Bangs on about constitutional reform and citizen juries. Ultimate way to listen is to give them a vote. Robinson: You ordered civil service to be prepared. When the polls turned, you turned. That's not listening. Go Nick! Brown blathers. Goes on about his vision again. I need the time to show people that vision can be delivered. Does anyone actually know what his vision is?

Tom Bradby: Come on, you did more than listen about an early election. You changed your mind because you thought you might lose. Brown: I returned to my first instinct and that was to present my vision to the country. Country is changing. A country of aspiration. Oh give me strength. Bradby: Do you acknowledge it's a bit of a catastrophe? Brown won't answer.

Andy Bell: Do you acknowledge this has not been handled well? Brown: Perhaps I should have made the decision earlier but I decided to leave it until the end of the party conference season.

Michael Crick: Do you agree that the Tory proposals on Inheritance Tax are popular and will you steal them? Brown: Tories can't pay for their proposals. Can't meet their promises. Tories can't bring economic stability.

James Landale: Can we be clear, are you suggesting your decision had absolutely nothing to do with the state of the opinion polls; I considered holding an election. I saw the polls. Marginal seats wanted an election and would have been retained. I have to take a bigger view. I need time to show people how my vision of the future of the country has to be realised.

Gloria Del Piero (GMTV): No post for 5 days. ban on strikes in public services? Brown: Disruption is unacceptable. Fails to answer the question.

Bob Roberts (Mirror): Non Doms - hasn't the time come to make these people pay more? Brown: Matter for the Chancellor, not me (!!!!). When I was Chancellor we looked at this, review still in progress. Tory figures are wrong. Only a few people who could pay the money. rest would leave. Actual cost is about £650 million. I've looked at this in the past.

Robin Oakley: Trip to Basra - used it for party political advantage etc. Brown: You are wrong on all three counts. I had to go to Iraq.

Jon Snow You said you wanted to listen to British people. They don't have an appetite for a new war yet war drums are banging for a war on Iran. Is an attack inconceivable and you would neither support or back an attack on Iran. Brown: We take Iranian nuclear capability seriously. Cannot go unchallenged. We believe this can be resolved by diplomatic means, sanctions if necessary but am not prepared to go further than that. I do not rule out anything.

Sunday Herald: Couldn't you use a three week election campaign to get your vision across? Brown: blather... vision...blather...aspiration...

Anonymous: Fixed term Parliaments. Review into the constitution will undoubtedly look at these questions. I think there are strong objections in a parliamentary system because the government has got to be responsible to the House of Commons. If you lose your majority you have got to be able to have an election. The debate should continue over the next few months.

Gary Gibbon: would you like to rule out an election in 2008? Can you say hand on heart that the change in opinion polls changed your mind - you do after all talk of your moral compass. Brown: Yes I can. Ruled it out to present my vision - YeGods, can we stand any more of this obfuscation? 2008 election is very unlikely.

Macer Hall (Express) Have you proved yourself out of touch with rising aspirations of British people on inheritance tax? Brown: Tory tax proposals don't add up. I have always recognised IHT is a major issue for people. I've always understood desire of people to hand properties down. What is workable and fair? We have raised the threshold to enable more estates to be exempt. We continue to raise it. Of course you can look at other changes but any change has to be workable and fair.

Radio 1 Newsbeat: Dithered over the 1994 leadership, people have got a point when they call you a ditherer, haven't they? Brown: People will look at real strength. real decisiveness is about making decisions about the economy, security and defence. Newsbeat: Have pages of texts from listeners who think you;ve bottled it. How are you going to turn that around? Brown: people judge me on the big decisions for the future of the country.

Fox News: Transatlantic alliances are shifting. Is there a new special relationship between Washington and France. Brown: Welcome better relations between USA and France. Sarkozy has moved to our position of building strong relationships with the USA.

Daisy McAndrew Why did you make your announcement to Marr? This press conference shows you made an error of judgement. Brown: I could have made the announcement earlier. Wanted to do it in such a way that we could lead to this press conference.

Anonymous: Do you stand by the 2005 manifesto? If so, how different is it to your vision and why then would you need a new mandate or even consider one Brown: My vision is set out in that manifesto.

Guto Harri: Having admitted you took a calculated decision to let speculation run, will you admit your aim was to destabilise your opponents and it backfired spectacularly?
Brown: Admit I considered an election, but I had to bring speculation to an end at the end of the party conference season. Maybe I should have done it earlier. My decision was based on the chance to deliver on my policies. I've only had several months to do so. That's the reason for my decision.

Anonymous: Set a bold constitutional precedent and name the date in 2009 now. Brown: This is a parliamentary democracy, have already more or less ruled it out in 2008.

Anonymous: Why was it your advisers instinct on the first day you were elected was to hold an election in 2008? Brown: Know nothing of that.

Paul Waugh: In conference speech you said that anyone coming to Britain caught with guns and selling drugs will be thrown out. Can't do that under a 2004 EU Directive. Surely you got a headline which hasn't got substance? Brown: I can give you details of people who have been thrown out of the country for those two offences.

James Kirkup: In terms of discussions with advisers, who first raised the suggestion of an election. Brown: Not going to get into that. Always views of people who have different views.
I decide. With power comes responsibility. I made my decision. I made my decision. For one moment I thought he was going to say: I'm in charge.

Simon Carr: If NOTW poll had showed a 6 point Labour lead in the marginals...? Brown: I would have made the same decision.

Catherine Mayer (TIME): What common ground do you have with David Cameron and will you dispense with reading from an autocue. Brown: Many things in common with other parties. Tried to reach out to people in other parties.

I have lost the will to live... THE END