Civil servants hold meetings with senior Tories to prepare for Cameron victory

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Civil servants are holding meetings with senior Conservatives in anticipation of a Cameron victory at the next election.

Members of the shadow cabinet have met officials amid increasing signs that Whitehall is actively preparing for a Tory government.

Although the next poll does not have to be held until mid 2010, the timing of an election is at the whim of the prime minister.

If Gordon Brown is forced from office in the next few months, a successor may find it very difficult not to hold an immediate poll as it would be the second leader unelected by the public.

The Tories are now around 20 points ahead in the polls - prompting the desire by Whitehall mandarins to prepare for Conservative polices and ensure a smooth handover of power.

All contacts so far have been informal, but from January next year, the Tories will be entitled to formal co-operation from the civil service.

Shadow minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said there had been no formal meetings yet.

'We take nothing for granted but naturally in the run up to a General Election we will meet with senior civil servants to discuss our programme,' he said.

'Should we form the next Government we are committed to ensuring that we are properly prepared.'