PM: Labour must expose Cameron rhetoric

Labour can win the next election if it exposes David Cameron as a "lightweight" PR man who has failed to change the Tories, the Prime Minister said today.

In his most savage attack on the Conservative leader, Tony Blair admitted Mr Cameron had learned the "tactics of opposition" but said they still had no "strategy for government". As a new opinion poll gave Labour hope of avoiding meltdown in the Scottish elections, Mr Blair condemned Mr Cameron for being weak on law and order and the fight against terrorism.

In a speech in his Sedgefield constituency, Mr Blair said Mr Cameron's rhetoric on changing the Tories has failed to be matched by reality.

Far from taking the centre ground, the Tories have lurched to the Left on crime, with "hug a hoodie" policies, and to the Right on Europe, he said.

It comes as a new Times poll showed SNP support in Scotland-had fallen in the past month, with Labour and the Lib-Dems gaining support as polling day draws nearer.

It also emerged today that David Miliband has finally ruled himself out of the Labour leadership, privately telling senior Blairites that he will not stand against Mr Brown "under any circumstances".