Redwood appeals to Eurosceptics

John Redwood will today place Europe back at the heart of the Tory agenda with an attack on "unwanted" EU legislation.

He will promise to compile a list of "undesirable and unreasonable" European laws which a future Conservative government would renegotiate.

"We will draw up our first list of unwanted EU regulations ready to take to Brussels as part of our renegotiation," he will say. The robust Eurosceptic message will be seen as an attempt to head off the threat posed by the UK Independence Party.

Mr Redwood, who was brought back to the shadow Cabinet last month as " deregulation" spokesman, will set out a timetable for cutting unnecessary regulation.

He will also indicate that a future Conservative government may bring in an unofficial rule that for every new law, an existing law has to be abolished.

Mr Redwood will also attack Labour's claim to be the party of business.