Tory leader David Cameron would welcome a snap election when Tony Blair stands down.
Mr Cameron dismissed as "rubbish" reports that his party was terrified of a quick election because it would not be ready.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I would love to have an early election. I can't wait for the opportunity to get rid of this Government.
"It's this Government that has been putting up the cost of living, that's wrecking the health service, that's failing to reform education, that's sending social mobility backwards.
"The first step has got to be getting rid of the Government, so the earliest possible opportunity I would be delighted with.
"I don't think anybody other than Tony Blair has a mandate, because he said he would serve a full term in office, so when he goes, his successor, I suspect Gordon Brown, will know in their heart that they don't really have a mandate from the British people."
Mr Cameron, who has pledged to position the Tories as the party of working people, said the average family's quality of life was worse now than five years ago.
He said: "I think in some respects it is (worse). Certainly people are paying more in terms of taxes, particularly council tax, which has doubled over the last decade, but can anyone say the services they are getting from their local authorities are twice as good? They can't.
"In some aspects, yes, quality of life has got worse."
He added: "People are very frustrated because they have paid more in taxes, they have expected greater improvements in services, they haven't got them - and in some cases things have got worse."
