British opposition leader demands general election

RAWTENSTALL (Reuters) - The leader of Britain’s main opposition party urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday to call a general election, saying the political system was “paralysed” by a scandal over lawmakers’ expenses.
Several days of disclosures in the Daily Telegraph about lawmakers’ expenses have led to anger among the public and criticism of parliament and its members.
Conservative leader David Cameron called on voters of all the main parties to petition for a general election to be held after the June 4 local and European elections. He said only by dissolving parliament and holding a general election right away could the expenses “mess” be sorted out, as well as the recession and debt crisis that has seen the UK hit by rising unemployment and house repossessions.
“This political crisis has been caused by the politicians, so I don’t think the politicians alone can solve it,” he said during a speech to launch the party’s European campaign in Rossendale, northwest England.
“The public have got to be involved.” He said he was turning the campaign for the European elections into the one “Britain now needs”. “And I want as many people as possible — whether you support Labour, or the LibDems, or no party — to join in.” He urged people to write to newspapers and to start a petition.