Labour appoints elections chief

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Businessman and former Tony Blair adviser Jon Mendelsohn has been drafted in to beef up the party's finances, membership and organisation in readiness to go to the country.

The newly-created role takes effect from the beginning of next month, ahead of a poll some observers believe could come as early as October or in the spring.

Mr Mendelsohn will report directly to cabinet minister Douglas Alexander, the Prime Minister's general election coordinator, for the attempt to win a fourth term, and Labour general secretary Peter Watt.

The party said his voluntary role would be to "improve overall organisational efficiency and to develop the party's future financial strategies".

"He will work hand-in-hand with party staff on strengthening and extending our supporter base, seeking value for money in our expenditure and helping to build a party machinery that can best fight a general election, whenever the Prime Minister chooses to call it," it said.

Mr Mendelsohn said: "As a lifelong Labour supporter and a passionate believer in social justice and equality, I am delighted to take up this post, helping the party prepare for the next general election.

"I hope that I can play my part in seeing the Labour Government re-elected once again so Gordon Brown can continue to change Britain for the better."

Speculation over an early election has been mounting as a result of a series of opinion polls showing Labour maintaining a steady lead of six or seven points over the Conservatives since Mr Brown moved to 10 Downing Street - enough to secure a healthy majority of 100 or more if repeated at the ballot box.

A leaked memo last week showed that Labour polling guru Lord Gould had advised Mr Brown to go for "an early election after a short period of intense and compelling activity".