Labour Party on election alert

Labour is on high alert for a snap general election as the Gordon Brown era gets under way.

The new leader has sparked ballot speculation by choosing an ally to prepare for a poll.

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander has been ordered to be ready whenever the Prime Minister-in-waiting decides to "fire the starting gun".

The surprise move came despite Mr Brown previously letting slip that he expected to call the next general election in 2009.

Some Labour MPs even suggested that a vote at the end of next month could be possible if private polling reveals sufficient evidence of a "Brown Bounce".

But most observers believe that next year is more likely for Mr Brown to test his mettle at the ballot box.

He received a ringing endorsement from predecessor Tony Blair at an emotional special conference in Manchester where he described his new role "an awesome responsibility."

He promised to "justify every day" the trust his party had placed in him and said: "It is with humility, pride and a great sense of duty that I accept the privilege and the great responsibility of leading our party and changing our country."

Mr Brown singled out the NHS as his top priority but also promised action on education, housing, child poverty and the constitution.

Harriet Harman has been elected as the deputy leader of the Labour Party and was also made Party Chair but not Deputy Prime Minister.

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.