The Conservative leader has sought to strengthen his party's election campaign by appointing an expert with experience of helping Australian prime minister John Howard win office.

Michael Howard announced on Tuesday that Lynton Crosby was taking on a new role as the party's general election campaign director.

Crosby is being given responsibility for managing the Tory campaign in the period up to polling day.

The campaign chief was described as playing a "pivotal role" in the four election victories achieved by the Australian leader.

Crosby was deputy campaign director of the Australian Liberal Party when Howard won his first election victory in 1996, and was national campaign director during subsequent victories in 1998 and 2001.

And his firm was responsible for the polling and research in John Howard’s fourth election victory earlier this month.

Announcing his appointment, the Tory leader said he was "delighted that we will have the benefit of his professional expertise in the run up to the general election".

Crosby added: "Throughout my friendship with Michael I have seen first hand someone who is direct, means what he says, and has the determination to get the job done - not just to talk."

Meanwhile, Labour's general election campaign chief was facing questions from MPs on Tuesday.

Alan Milburn, who recently returned to the Cabined as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will be responsible for masterminding Labour's strategy to take on Crosby.

In the Commons, Conservative spokesman Julian Lewis said Milburn and Cabinet Office minister Ruth Kelly were now doing jobs "formerly discharged by a single minister at non-Cabinet level".

But Milburn, appearing on the frontbench for the first time since stepping down as health secretary, said the claim was "absurd" and "a bit rich" given the increased taxpayer support given to the Conservatives to carry out the party's parliamentary duties.

"Given the performance of [Lewis] and the Opposition, one wonders what they are doing with it," he said.