Portillo launches broadside against Tory leader

Monday, 15 September 2003 6:01 AM

Former Tory treasury spokesman Michael Portillo has said it was now virtually impossible for Iain Duncan Smith to win the next general election.

It would take a "once in a generation" political catastrophe for Labour to lose power with Duncan Smith at the helm.

Duncan Smith beat Mr Portillo for the Tory leadership in a close run race in 2001.

Mr Portillo said the Conservatives were in "a phase of "transition," with traditional policies of a low tax economy, lower public spending and hostility to European bureaucracy in conflict with the new agenda which includes pledges to maintain, improve and invest in public services.

"Even now, after many, many years in opposition, people don't know what the Conservatives stand for," he said.

Mr Portillo's intervention came as Mr Duncan Smith and other high ranking Conservatives prepare to speak at the 'Compassionate Conservatism 2003' conference.

The conference is being held at the Lewis Media Centre at Labour's old Millbank headquarters.

Today IDS, Theresa May MP, Conservative Party Chairman, David Lidington MP, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and David Willetts MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, will make presentations.

Mr Duncan Smith will tell the conference that his "caring party" would fight against poverty, drugs and crime.

Moreover, Tory compassion was a real alternative to Labour's, he will say.

"This monopoly, like all monopolies, has hurt the people it dominates. Poverty is too important an issue to leave to Labour. It's too important to leave to any one political party."

The Tories "fair deal" was for everyone, he will say, with "No one held back. No one left behind."

Mr Duncan Smith's leadership will be tested later this week in the by-election in Brent East.

Some critics claim that Duncan Smith may face a leadership challenge if the Tories end up in third place or worse.

Tags: