British opposition leader Ed Miliband has roped in US poll guru David Axelrod as his strategic adviser to fight a "tight" election next year.

Axelrod, a key architect behind US President Barack Obama's two presidential triumphs, will work alongside shadow foreign secretary, Douglas Alexander, who is to run Labour's general election strategy.

The party will pay Axelrod a six-figure sum and use his consulting firm AKVD in its bid to win power in the May 7, 2015 election, the BBC reported. Axelrod, 59, was a key architect of US President Obama's back-to-back presidential victories in 2008 and 2012.

Alexander said Axelrod had three great strengths: he had shown an ability to win the middle class over to a progressive cause; he knew how to build large majorities; and he was an expert in handling negative campaigning.