Clegg unveils new election team

Mr Clegg is getting ready for the election, expected next May

The Lib Dems' former media chief Jonny Oates is returning to the party to help it prepare for the general election.

He will lead the communications team, John Sharkey will chair the campaign with MP Andrew Stunnell as vice chair.

Leader Nick Clegg announced a shake-up of his election team earlier - the party's usual elections chief, Lord Rennard is stepping down.

Mr Oates joined the party in 2007, only to return to his old employer, Bell Pottinger public affairs last year.

Mr Sharkey, who was brought in by Mr Clegg as a communications adviser last year, is a former managing director of Saatchi and Saatchi and helped run the advertising campaign for Margaret Thatcher's 1987 election win.

'Fresh start'

Lord Rennard was credited with masterminding the party's electoral advance in recent years - firstly as director of campaigns and then as chief executive.

He helped pull off a series of spectacular by-election victories over the past 20 years but announced in May he would be stepping down at the end of the summer.

He has been replaced by Chris Fox as interim chief executive. Mr Fox and elections director Hilary Stephenson will also form part of the team preparing for a general election - expected next spring.

Mr Clegg said: "We need a fresh start to fix the unprecedented problems the country now faces. I am convinced our general election team announced today will deliver a successful and winning campaign."