Gordon Brown will work from his home in Scotland this week as he contemplates the possible timing of the next General Election, and the electoral fortunes of the Labour Party north of the border.

The Prime Minister, who along with his wife and children, abandoned their holiday in Dorset earlier this month after only four hours to respond to the foot-and-mouth crisis from Downing Street, appears to have given up all thoughts of another holiday and now has his feet firmly under the desk.

Mr Brown, riding high in the polls and facing pressure from sections of the party to call a snap election in the autumn, has given no hint of his plans - but sources close to him suggest he is more likely to wait at least until next May or June.

He returned to his North Queensferry home last week for the first time since succeeding Tony Blair as Prime Minister, and yesterday a Downing Street spokeswoman said he would be there for the "foreseeable future".

As he demonstrated during the foot-and-mouth scare, the Prime Minister will return to London immediately if he thinks it appropriate - but otherwise, he believes that the work of governing the country can continue from wherever he chooses to be.

Downing Street staff have joined him in Scotland, and the necessary prime ministerial accoutrements have been put in place for him to work between his home and office in his Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency.

Mr Brown, already concerned about Labour's fortunes in Scotland, will examine Alex Salmond's plans, published today, for a national conversation on the powers of the Scottish Parliament.