GORDON Brown admitted yesterday that he blundered in letting election fever rage for so long, as he came close to blaming his advisors for the debacle of the cancelled poll.

Facing the media at Westminster, Mr Brown faced accusations that he had "dithered" over the election date - and then shown "weakness" when it was eventually postponed.

Mr Brown again insisted a recent poll surge for the Tories played no part in his decision to delay an election, explaining he wanted more time to deliver his "vision for the country".

But, although he said he took full responsibility for the backlash against the Government, he went out of his way to make clear he had not, personally, favoured an early poll.

Repeatedly, Mr Brown stressed his "first instinct" had been against an autumn election, but he had had a "responsibility" to listen to those - particularly MPs in marginal seats - demanding one.

Speaking at his monthly press conference, the Prime minister, said: "Yes, I did consider holding an election. Yes, I looked at it.

"My first instinct was that I wanted to get on with my job of putting my vision of what the future of the country was to the people of the country, and deliver on it, before there was ever an election.

"But I did listen to people. I heard from candidates in marginal seats - those candidates in marginal seats were telling us we would win the election."

Rubbishing the idea that poor opinion polls had sealed his decision - the accusation made by the opposition parties - Mr Brown vowed: "I happen to believe we would win at any time."

Asked why he only took the decision to abort the election at the weekend , the Prime Minister told journalists: "I could have made it earlier - perhaps I should have made it earlier."

And, asked whether the situation had been handled well, Mr Brown acknowledged the damage, joking: "I think your weekend has been better than mine."

The hour-long grilling allowed the Prime Minister to face the media before a series of announcements, particularly on Iraq and the economy, aimed at putting Labour back on the front foot.

But the recriminations - and the fear in Labour's ranks that Mr Brown has thrown away his claim to have left 'Blairite spin' behind - are likely to continue for some time.

Last night, Mr Brown faced a meeting of his own MPs, many of whom are incredulous that he allowed election fever to run for so long, only to pull back at such cost to his reputation.

Branding Mr Brown a "bottler", Conservative leader David Cameron has accused him of "treating the British people like fools" by denying Labour's sudden slump in the polls forced the decision.

At the press conference, the Prime Minister said an election was not likely in 2008, making a poll in May 2009 - when he will have served two years in No.10 - the best bet.

He acknowledged inheritance tax was "a major issue", but warned that Conservative plans to exempt estates under £1m were "unaffordable" and would put the economy at risk.

Ahead of an expected announcement today of a Labour review of the tax, Mr Brown said: "I relish the chance to debate the Tory proposals on inheritance tax."

The Prime Minister also raised the possibility of a military strike against Iran over its nuclear programme, saying: "I do not rule anything out."