Brown sparks early election rumours

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The special political session of Cabinet at the PM's country residence is expected to consider plans to build momentum in the run-up to this autumn's annual party conferences.

If Mr Brown can maintain or extend his opinion poll lead during the summer months - traditionally a quiet time in the world of politics - he may feel encouraged to go for an election as early as spring 2008.

Labour MPs have also been invited to two seminars on campaign tactics ahead of the summer break.

Mr Brown held a political Cabinet at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, at which election co-ordinator Douglas Alexander outlined a strategy of attacking Conservative leader David Cameron for "talking left and acting right".

He told colleagues that opinion poll support for Labour hardened when voters were asked to compare Mr Brown and Mr Cameron directly.

And he said: "As the Tories move from presentation on to policy, the inherent tension between the marketing strategy adopted by David Cameron in the early days of his leadership and the Tory Party's continuing right-wing dogma is becoming exposed.

"That's why David Cameron is increasingly talking left and acting right."

Mr Alexander's appointment last month fuelled speculation that Mr Brown would seek his own electoral mandate by going to the polls before the expected date of 2009 or 2010.

Recent polls have put Labour as much as seven points ahead of the Conservatives, suggesting the party is benefiting from a significant "Brown bounce" following the change of leadership last month, while Mr Cameron has suffered from internal rows over grammar schools.