We will put our faith in local councillors

Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith

Speaking at the Tories' annual local government conference in Watford on Saturday, Mr Duncan Smith explained how the Conservatives hope to encourage "community" local government.

"We will put our faith in local councillors, the people who are closest to those who will rely on us to deliver better public services," he said.

Spending choices

He believes there must be an end to the "suffocating centralisation" which he claims Labour has imposed on local authorities.

Iain Duncan Smith attacked Labour and Liberal Democrat councils

"In short, we will revive local government," he told delegates.

Instead of rigid housing targets which override the wishes of local communities, the Conservatives would give councils a greater say on planning, he said.

Community government is about reducing Westminster's power, allowing authorities to learn from schemes in other areas, Mr Duncan Smith said.

Local authorities would also get greater discretion on spending.

As an example, he pointed to Kensington and Chelsea's local authority which he said did not wait for the government initiative before introducing community wardens to back up police.

Mr Duncan Smith also attacked Labour and Liberal Democrat records in local authorities.

He quoted the government's own figures which show authorities run by the other two parties collected less council tax and fewer council rents than Tories.

Tory 'success'

"The same statistics show that Conservative councils have fewer empty council houses, cleaner streets and fewer complaints of maladministration," he told delegates.

"The worst schools are in Labour and Liberal Democrat councils. The best rates of recycling are in Conservative controlled authorities."

The Conservatives have yet to make any firm policy proposals on local authorities.

Iain Duncan Smith can't hide the Tory record as the greatest centralising government of all under Margaret Thatcher

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott

He praised social workers in Tory-controlled areas, saying: "The job they do in protecting the vulnerable and trying to give the disadvantaged a better chance in life too often goes unheralded."

He said the Conservatives would offer people more choice over their public services.

"Labour's failure to trust the people who use public services and the people who are on the frontline delivering them shows that they stand ideologically against greater choice and diversity," he said.

But Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has accused the Tory leader of "double talk".

"Iain Duncan Smith can't hide the Tory record as the greatest centralising government of all under Margaret Thatcher," he said.

He continued: "And on health, Iain Duncan Smith has confirmed yet again his intention to make people pay.