Before Mr Brown had made the announcement, David Cameron, the Conservative leader, told supporters gathered by the Thames that the election was “the most important for a generation”.

　　布朗发表声明之前，保守党领袖大卫·卡梅伦(David Cameron)对聚集在泰晤士河畔的支持者们说，这次选举是“对整整一代人最重要的一次”。

　　“It comes down to this. You don't have to put up with another five years of Gordon Brown ... if you vote Conservative you are voting for hope, optimism and change.”

　　“归根到底，您不必再忍受布朗五年了……投票给保守党，就是投票给希望、乐观和变革。”

　　Mr Cameron's party needs to break out of its southern heartlands to win at least 117 seats – its biggest total since the second world war – to secure a working majority.

　　保守党需要在英国南部的票仓以外地区赢得至少117个座位，才能获得有效的多数地位——这一数字将是二战以来该党面临的最高门槛。