By Lesley Foottit - 30th September 2009
Gordon Brown has made up his mind about whether he is going to join the other main party leaders in a televised debate.
But the prime minister is refusing to reveal his decision, claiming that now is not the time to announce it.
The BBC reported that an early draft of his keynote conference speech included a commitment to take part in the debate, but was removed from the final version.
Rival party leaders David Cameron and Nick Clegg have already expressed their willingness to join a televised debate with Brown during the next general election.
Brown told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he wanted to concentrate on "going round the country" explaining issues of policy to voters, not discussing the debate.
He said: "There is a time for discussing debates but we are not in an election. I have decided in my own mind.
"I am not going to go into that today because basically there is a time for deciding these issues and the time for me at the moment, where I have got to spend my time, is going round the country as I have been doing over the last few months to explain to people the policies that we are engaged in."
Televised showdowns between US presidential candidates have become a key part of the electoral process, but critics here argue they could personalise a choice between parties.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd