City boss heads Tory fund-raising

Stanley Fink is a big donor to the Conservative Party.

A top City executive is to manage the Conservative's election fund-raising as the party gets ready for an election sometime in the next 18 months.

Stanley Fink, former chief executive of hedge fund Man Group, is also donating £1m to the party and promises more cash when an election is called.

Tory leader David Cameron has urged all candidates to prepare for a snap poll.

A vote is not necessary until June next year, but many believe Labour's best opportunity is the first half of 2009.

Mail campaign

Mr Fink's appointment comes as the Tories are planning a national advertising drive and preparing to target hundreds of thousands of voters with a direct mail campaign.

However, Gordon Brown has said elections are not high on his agenda.

Mr Fink, now chief executive of International Standard Asset Management, said: "Britain badly needs change and I look forward to playing my part to help ensure David Cameron is elected as our next prime minister.

"I believe he and his team have the vision and the policies to help this country out of the recession and back on to the right path for the future."

Conservative Party treasurer Michael Spencer said he had invited Mr Fink to take up the post.

Mr Fink's injection of cash coincides with a surge in Labour fundraising which in the most recent financial quarter saw their coffers outstrip those of the Conservatives for the first time in more than two years.