brighton rock
New member
Duncan Smith pledges election victory
IDS: We're on the move
Iain Duncan Smith has promised he will lead the Conservatives to victory at the next General Election, as the party's annual conference gets underway.
During a visit to a Blackpool sixth form college he shrugged off hostile headlines to say: "We are going to win the next election, I promise you.
"This week is about the alternative. We are the alternative and we are heading for government."
Asked about rumoured plots to replace him as Tory leader, he said: "I will tell you what there is a plot to do, and that is to get rid of Tony Blair. Even his own chancellor is out to get him."
Watch this space. This week we are on the attack... this party is really on the move
Iain Duncan Smith
Tory leader
Mr Duncan Smith's comments came as party chairwoman Theresa May prepared to throw her weight behind his leadership in her keynote speech on Monday afternoon.
Also on the opening day of the conference the party has outlined plans to raise pensions and allow people to claim back tax to pay for private health and education.
Mr Duncan Smith insisted it was not just the middle classes who would benefit from the plans: "Watch this space. This week we are on the attack... this party is really on the move."
May's vision
In the main speech of the day Mrs May will cast her party as "the government of tomorrow" and tell the conference that the Tories need to appear like "a party of today".
The Tory chairman's speech last year caused shockwaves in the party when she warned activists that many voters saw the Conservatives as the "nasty party".
Mrs May told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that voters were more interested in hearing about her party's policies than internal plotting.
I believe the party under Iain can win the next general election
Theresa May
She said the Tories would use their week in Blackpool to set out the underlying themes they would bring to government.
"That would predominantly be about trusting people, about setting people free," she said.
Asked about the reports that "plotters" are seeking to oust Mr Duncan Smith, she said policies were more important.
"What voters are now looking for is the alternative government and what we will be showing this week is that we can be that alternative government and that we are the alternative government who will deliver the fair deal which everyone is asking for," she said.
She said Mr Duncan Smith would lead the party to the next election amid a political climate which has created an opportunity "that hasn't been here for the last 10 or 11 years".
Deliver
"I believe the party can win the next general election," she said. "I believe the party under Iain can win the next general election."
She said Mr Duncan Smith was focusing the party on issues which really matter to voters.
"That is predominantly looking at public services and how we can deliver the improvements in public services that Tony Blair and his government have so palpably failed to give people," she said,
We have a right as taxpayers to make sure the money we put into health is spent in a fair, justifiable and transparent way
Liam Fox
Tory health plans
She conceded it was necessary for the party to move forward, but added: "What we need to do is show that we are the government of tomorrow.
"What is important for the party is the policies that we show."
Under health proposals being unveiled by party spokesman Liam Fox, patients would be able to get the government to pay 60% of their private healthcare bills.
Dr Fox said the plan would allow taxpayers to take some of the cash they had contributed into the system and take it elsewhere if they chose.
IDS: We're on the move
Iain Duncan Smith has promised he will lead the Conservatives to victory at the next General Election, as the party's annual conference gets underway.
During a visit to a Blackpool sixth form college he shrugged off hostile headlines to say: "We are going to win the next election, I promise you.
"This week is about the alternative. We are the alternative and we are heading for government."
Asked about rumoured plots to replace him as Tory leader, he said: "I will tell you what there is a plot to do, and that is to get rid of Tony Blair. Even his own chancellor is out to get him."
Watch this space. This week we are on the attack... this party is really on the move
Iain Duncan Smith
Tory leader
Mr Duncan Smith's comments came as party chairwoman Theresa May prepared to throw her weight behind his leadership in her keynote speech on Monday afternoon.
Also on the opening day of the conference the party has outlined plans to raise pensions and allow people to claim back tax to pay for private health and education.
Mr Duncan Smith insisted it was not just the middle classes who would benefit from the plans: "Watch this space. This week we are on the attack... this party is really on the move."
May's vision
In the main speech of the day Mrs May will cast her party as "the government of tomorrow" and tell the conference that the Tories need to appear like "a party of today".
The Tory chairman's speech last year caused shockwaves in the party when she warned activists that many voters saw the Conservatives as the "nasty party".
Mrs May told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that voters were more interested in hearing about her party's policies than internal plotting.
I believe the party under Iain can win the next general election
Theresa May
She said the Tories would use their week in Blackpool to set out the underlying themes they would bring to government.
"That would predominantly be about trusting people, about setting people free," she said.
Asked about the reports that "plotters" are seeking to oust Mr Duncan Smith, she said policies were more important.
"What voters are now looking for is the alternative government and what we will be showing this week is that we can be that alternative government and that we are the alternative government who will deliver the fair deal which everyone is asking for," she said.
She said Mr Duncan Smith would lead the party to the next election amid a political climate which has created an opportunity "that hasn't been here for the last 10 or 11 years".
Deliver
"I believe the party can win the next general election," she said. "I believe the party under Iain can win the next general election."
She said Mr Duncan Smith was focusing the party on issues which really matter to voters.
"That is predominantly looking at public services and how we can deliver the improvements in public services that Tony Blair and his government have so palpably failed to give people," she said,
We have a right as taxpayers to make sure the money we put into health is spent in a fair, justifiable and transparent way
Liam Fox
Tory health plans
She conceded it was necessary for the party to move forward, but added: "What we need to do is show that we are the government of tomorrow.
"What is important for the party is the policies that we show."
Under health proposals being unveiled by party spokesman Liam Fox, patients would be able to get the government to pay 60% of their private healthcare bills.
Dr Fox said the plan would allow taxpayers to take some of the cash they had contributed into the system and take it elsewhere if they chose.
