IDS sets out 'roadmap for victory'

A bid to win back momentum for the Tory Party - and his own leadership - is to be launched today by Iain Duncan Smith.

The Tory leader will publish what the party claims is a "roadmap for victory" over Tony Blair at the next general election.

The 100-page document, titled Total Politics: Labour's Command State, promises to hand back power to parents and teachers, patients and medical staff and local communities. It condemns Labour's "top-down" approach, beset by targets and control from the centre.

Today's launch will be followed tomorrow by a shadow cabinet away-day "strategy session" to map the Tories' own policies.

But it comes amid continuing complaints from the party, inside the Commons and beyond, that it is too little too late. Shadow ministers and Tory MPs are alarmed at the apparent failure to make an impact over the summer or to make capital out of the Government's difficulties over the Hutton Inquiry and the aftermath of the war on Iraq.

Much of the criticism is focused on Mr Duncan Smith, now marking his second anniversary as leader.

The latest opinion polls show Labour still holding a steady lead. And Mr Duncan Smith's own ratings have slumped back into third place among the main party leaders, with many Tory voters still doubting his abilities.

The party faces the threat at next week's byelection in Brent East of being forced into third place behind the Liberal Democrats. Labour held the north London seat at the last general election with a comfortable 13,047 majority. The Tories gained a little over 5,000 votes with the Lib-Dems taking 3,000.

For that order to be reversed next week would put Mr Duncan Smith's leadership under massive question. But Tories accept that with a general election now only two years away or less there is little chance of him being ousted.

Mr Duncan Smith's aides promised a big policy launch at the Tory conference next month. Today's document concentrates on attacking Labour's approach and offering an "alternative model."

The Tory leader at his press conference, was set to condemn the "disease at the heart of Tony Blair's government".