The Conservative leader, Iain Duncan Smith, has said he is convinced that the party can turn the corner in the coming year.

In his New Year message Mr Duncan Smith says that 2003 will be especially important for the party because of the need to do well in the coming local elections.

He promises to bring new vigour to party policy, with education - an area he believes Labour is failing in - to become its key priority.

The prospect of tax cuts, which sparked controversy when recently raised by him, take second place to the themes of public service reform and helping the vulnerable.

Classroom 'civility'

The opposition leader says that Labour came to power with the slogan "education, education, education" in 1997, but has failed to deliver on its promise.

I know how tough it can be out on the frontline and how much we depend on you Iain Duncan Smith

Many of Britain's most deprived children are suffering as a result, Mr Duncan Smith claims in the message to local party chairmen.

Announcing a new school standards campaign, he says: "From New Year we will be concentrating on education - our nation's future depends on being able to teach our young people properly.

"And yet the gap between standards in our inner city schools and the rest of the country is growing."

Mr Duncan Smith says that a return to "civility" is needed in Britain's classrooms, along with higher expectations among pupils.

'Hard work'

Success in the local elections is particularly important to Mr Duncan Smith and could be crucial to his chances of leading the party into another general election.

He makes a point of thanking local party chairmen for their support and tells activists they will be rewarded for their "patience and hard work" after a "tough" period.

The Tory leader says the campaign for the May local elections "has already started".

He tells the chairmen: "We face a cynical and increasingly discredited government."

Mr Duncan Smith says the challenge is to show that there is a party which offers a "real alternative" and can help build businesses and deliver better public services.

"I know how tough it can be out on the frontline and how much we depend on you," he adds.