Jackie Ashley, Tory strategist

In the Guardian Jackie Ashley declares herself one of that small group who thinks Brown's big mistake was not ramping up an election, it was failing to call one.

Ironically, I suppose, the more gung ho you are about Brown the more inclined you are now to think he  bottled it.

Jackie goes on to make what I think is the key argument now:

The accusation of cowardice won't, I predict, be very damaging. Deciding whether or not to call an election against unpromising polls is not, in most people's view, a matter of courage but of sensible political calculation. Brown has taken, and will take, enough tough decisions for those outside the Westminster bubble to judge him strong enough to weather real storms.

"Frit" and "bottled it" will be charges made by chortling Tories and Blairite hacks, but they should beware: too much sniggering may be enjoyable, but doesn't necessarily impress the public.

The vastly more damaging attack, and the one Brown has to take seriously, is that he was devious or sly in trying to manipulate preparations for the election that never was.

Whoever thought the Basra trip in the middle of the Tory party conference was a clever wheeze should be taken out and ... well, perhaps sent on a tour of duty in Baghdad. But Brown assented to it. If you say parliament will hear announcements first, then parliament must.

The Conservatives can gain a great deal by fixing the label of spinner and manipulator on Brown, not bottler.