Wade's campaign boosted sales and changed the law

News of the World editor Rebekah Wade is to replace David Yelland as editor of the Sun newspaper.

Yelland is heading to Harvard to "take up a role in the management" of News International after holding down one of the UK's top media jobs for four years.

He is replaced by Wade, his former deputy, at a newspaper traditionally watched with trepidation by Labour.

The Sun is said to enjoy privileged Downing Street access - befitting a newspaper with legendary, and probably mythical, powers to make or break governments.

After the Tories' unexpected 1992 general victory, the tabloid's banner headline "it was the Sun wot won it" struck fear into Labour hearts after a shock fourth defeat at the polls.

And the newspaper's 1997 blessing for new Labour was viewed as press confirmation of Tony Blair's status as prime-minister-in-waiting.

Number 10's euro referendum jitters have been fuelled by the Sun's strident defence of the pound.

But government insiders hope that the newspaper's recent pro-Labour credentials will be made more concrete under Wade's command.

A friend of Cherie Blair her partner, the actor Ross Kemp, is a prominent Labour supporter.

According to press reports, when Yelland took the job as Sun editor in 1998 it was Wade - often described as a "consummate networker" - who introduced him to the Blairs at Chequers.

A recent newspaper survey of Britain's most powerful placed her 71st - a rating just below that of the head of the civil service.

Her anti-paedophile campaign at News of the World after the killing of Sarah Payne contributed to changes in the law - and boosted the paper's sales by 95,000 copies a week after a period of decline.

But her editorial decision to print the names and whereabouts of 46 known paedophiles amid violent lynch mob scenes across Britain has left Wade with liberal critics.

During her time as deputy to her "laddish" predecessor, Wade is said to have tried to persuade Yelland to get rid of the newspaper's iconic topless pictures from page three.