Subdued Cowen accused of clinging to power

Taoiseach Brian Cowen was tonight accused of clinging to power after he refused to bring forward next month’s Budget and the new year general election.

Under enormous pressure within the Dáil and his own party to resign, a subdued Mr Cowen dismissed calls to scrap the timetable for a deal on the €90bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Europe.