Theresa May says Tories should focus on "rebirth"

In a speech to the Conservative local government conference in Coventry, Mrs May reasserted her party's promise to help vulnerable people after its recent clear-out of key modernising officials.

But Mrs May acknowledged the concern caused by rows at Westminster as she launched the Tory manifesto for the May local elections.

She told party volunteers: "I know that many of you are deeply frustrated at the actions of some in our party who seem to be doing everything possible to damage our chances in May."

Mrs May, member for Maidenhead in Berkshire, promised that Tory officials would now focus on the election battle.

Healing divisions

The recent shake-up in officials was seen as heralding a new concentration on more Conservative campaigning issues like asylum and tax cuts.

But Mrs May used the speech to signal she was sticking to her drive to rid the party of its "nasty image"

She said: "The next Conservative government will have a duty to heal those divisions by pursuing just and fair policies to help those who are - or who feel - vulnerable and neglected."

Scotland's police forces are fighting the drugs menace with one hand tied behind their back. Iain Duncan Smith

The speech struck a note of defiance from the party chairman who has endured newspaper reports that she was about to be sacked.

In her speech, Mrs May argued the Conservatives could deliver both better services and lower taxes - a theme in the party's local election manifesto.

Safer streets, as well as better transport, schools and hospitals, were other key campaigning pledges highlighted by Mrs May.

'Let down'

Her criticism of critics of the leadership was echoed by David Mitchell, chairman of Scottish Conservatives.

He told their conference in Glasgow: "I'm sure there are many people in this hall who felt angry and let down in recent weeks by the small minority of the Westminster Parliament who seem totally incapable of behaving in the manner expected of a mature political party."

Mrs May launched the local election campaign on Thursday, saying the party expected to gain a modest 30 council seats.

Dirty streets will be an election issue

She says the elections should not be treated as a "glorified opinion poll" but are important in their own right.

In his speech in Glasgow, Mr Duncan Smith stressed his support for the troops preparing for possible military action against Iraq.

And he accused the Lib Dems of "playing games" in their stance over the Iraq crisis.

"Not for us the games that the Liberal Democrats play - they chase the tide of shifting public opinion," he said.

Drugs 'menace'

Mr Duncan Smith argued that only his party could deliver better public services, a stronger economy and "a society built on social justice".

He pointed especially to the "drugs menace that ravages Scotland".

"The only war Labour and the Liberal Democrats have waged is against the ability of the police to crack down on the drugs trade," he said.

Mr Duncan Smith dubbed the Lib Dems as "Labour Democrats" who had put "ministerial Mondeos" before their principles.

He also promised that his party would return fishing policy to UK control, away from the European Union.

Labour have already accused the Tories of "lies" about council tax - a key campaign issue - to conceal their spending cuts plans.

The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, predict the Conservatives will reap dire results from their local election campaigning.

At the Tory Welsh conference in Cardiff, speakers include shadow Wales secretary Nigel Evans, MEP Jonathan Evans and shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram on Friday, and Mr Duncan Smith on Saturday.

Topics up for debate include the state of farming in Wales and getting a "fair deal" for Welsh local government.