LONDON, June 25: After being crowned leader of the Labour Party, Gordon Brown quickly appointed a party election chief, sparking rumours on Monday he might send the country to the polls within a year.

Brown, who will officially become prime minister on Wednesday, vowed to learn the lessons of Tony Blair’s ‘divisive’ decision to go to war in Iraq, though he offered few signs his Middle East policy would immediately differ from that of his predecessor.

It was, however, his decision to name current Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander as his election supremo, with the brief of ensuring Labour is ready to go to the polls whenever the prime minister so decides, that sparked rumours of a general election due in the coming year.

“My job now is to be ready whenever the incoming prime minister decides to fire the starting gun,” Alexander said.

“That’s what I’m determined to help deliver.” Several British newspapers on Monday interpreted the decision as indicating a general election was upcoming, with The Times headlining its story: ‘Now for election ‘08’, and The Sun titling its front-page ‘Election in a year’.

Menzies Campbell, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, said Brown should call an early general election to give him a mandate to govern the country, describing the recent weeks as ‘the longest coronation in history’. Brown – Blair’s finance minister since he became prime minister in 1997 – was confirmed Labour leader after neither of the two prospective candidates who hoped to run against him could get enough support.

He becomes premier as head of the largest party in parliament. Governing parties in Britain can change leader mid-term without having to call a general election.—AFP