LONDON, Dec. 4 - The British Conservative Party, in another sign of hard times all around, is laying off 10 percent of the staff at its headquarters.

High-profile and highly paid consultants appear to be spared, The Guardian reported. The policy office, where staffers research proposals for the next election campaign, and the external affairs section appear to be hit hardest.

The party announced this week that the Constituency Campaigning Services office in the Midlands was being closed. The office helped party organizations in parliamentary districts.

"Like many organizations in the current economic climate, we need to look very carefully about how we are using our resources and, unfortunately, there is a need to make significant budget cuts," a spokesman said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown must call a general election within 17 months. While Brown and the Labor Party suffered a precipitous slide in the polls, his response to the economic crisis has boosted his popularity and cut the Conservative lead.

Conservative officials said donations have dropped sharply as the economic slump has persisted. (UPI)