Hague: Tories 'hungry for victory'

Monday, 1 October 2007 12:00 AM

Former Conservative leader William Hague launched the conference in Blackpool yesterday as the party attempt to fight back against Brown's bounce.

The shadow foreign secretary attacked Gordon Brown's mistakes over the past decade and argued only the Conservatives could offer real change in government.

Of Mr Brown, he said: "He is the old government, and after ten years of failure and disappointment, he cannot be the change the country needs".

With the prime minister thought to be using this week's Conservative conference as the deciding factor on an early election, Mr Hague insisted the Tories were "hungry for victory".

Mr Hague said Mr Brown was "dithering" about going to the polls, backing the Tory leader who earlier told his opponent to "bring it on".

The Conservatives are set to continue their fight back today with a raft of tax proposals, designed to steal the centre-right ground back from the prime minister.

Shadow chancellor George Obsorne will propose a rise in the threshold for inheritance tax and a cut in stamp duty for first-time buyers.

Opening the Conservative conference in Blackpool yesterday, Mr Hague attacked the prime minister's record on pensions, the early release of prisoners, dentist shortage, Post Office closures and his "fake" tax cut.

He said Mr Brown was failing in his pledge to restore trust in British politics, attacking his refusal to hold a referendum on the EU treaty.

With Labour widely seen as having enjoyed a solid conference in Bournemouth, Mr Hague attempted to steal the momentum away from Mr Brown.

He said: "His speech last week contained so many old announcements it was about as inspirational as watching paint dry for the third or fourth time in a row."

The original Tory boy criticised Mr Brown for "fawning at the feet" of Margaret Thatcher, saying Mr Brown was not a conviction politician but a calculation politician.

In contrast, David Cameron has "tenacity and brilliance" and could be a "remarkable" prime minister, Mr Hague said.

As the Conservatives attempt to present a united front this week, Mr Hague struck out at Mr Cameron's critics.

He said: "When those of us who have held high office in our party wish to give frank advice we owe that to him, delivered in private confidence, never through public self-indulgence."

Despite this, the mood among delegates has been more critical than in Bournemouth, with many quick to question Mr Cameron's strategy.

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