Democracy NowWOW!

In other breaking news, Godron Brown's taking a page out of Al Gore's sappy political playbook and has decided to "reinvent government".

Gordon Brown drafted in opposition politicians and ‘citizen juries’ to help shape his policies and bring an end to ‘politics as usual’ on Monday as Labour’s narrowing poll lead damped speculation of an autumn election.

In a speech to usher in the new political season, Mr Brown outlined ways to tap “the wisdom and experience of the British people” and conscripted three senior opposition figures to advise his government.

Meanwhile, the prime minister played down the prospects of a general election in coming months, saying: “There will be a time and a place for a general election but it is not now.

“I am getting on with the business of government and I think people will see by what I say today and what I do in the future that what’s on my mind is making this country successful...”

Allies of David Cameron, the Conservative leader, believe it is the closest Mr Brown has come to ruling out an autumn poll.

Mr Cameron’s team was buoyed by new opinion polls – an Independent/ComRes survey on Monday put Labour and Tories neck-and-neck on 36 per cent – and believe the prime minister would not risk an election without a solid lead. A Populus poll in The Times today puts Labour just one point ahead of the Tories, on 37 per cent.

Yet despite an improved standing, Tory leaders are likely to have been alarmed by John Bercow and Patrick Mercer, former frontbenchers, offering to advise Mr Brown on young people and security respectively.

"Citizens Juries", huh? I think Satan's little helpers in the advertising and marketing world already beat you too that one. Only they call them "focus-groups". Basically, it'll just be a tax-funded way to figure out how to shill EngSoc in more appealing terms. A brand new day indeed...