Keir Starmer has put Labour on an election footing as he believes the Tory government “could fall at any time”.
The party chief told staff “we need to be ready” as he ordered them to ramp up preparations yesterday.
Following Liz Truss ’s disastrous first month in power, he said: “This is not the time for complacency or caution.
“We must seize the opportunity to show the British people we can lead the country forward.”
Mr Starmer added: “We are turning the page to the final act of opposition - driving the Labour Party into government. It’s going to get harder as we get closer.
“The government’s collapse on the biggest issue - the economy - means it could fall at any time.
“We have to recognise it is that unstable. We need to be ready. We need to get on an election footing straight away.”
Mr Starmer’s chief-of-staff Sam White, who had been blamed by some for the handling of the picket line row, will leave his post.
The party will also establish a new headquarters in London that will act as its general election base.