Conservatives are ready to win election, says Hague

The Conservatives are ready to win the forthcoming General Election, Tory leader William Hague said today.

He said his party would "trust the people" and "deliver common sense".

Mr Hague was speaking at the launch of his party's manifesto for local council elections to be held on June 7 - as Prime Minister Tony Blair was poised to name that date for the Westminster poll as well.

"Even though there might be two elections on June 7, there will only be one Conservative campaign and we are ready to win," Mr Hague told a news conference at Conservative Central Office.

The Tory leader's rallying cry came hours before a special political Cabinet meeting in Downing Street called by Mr Blair to approve Labour's General Election manifesto.

Mr Hague attacked Chancellor Gordon Brown for imposing "stealth taxes like higher fuel taxes and the landfill tax and the raid on pensions".

He said of Labour: "They are a national and a local disgrace. It makes no difference where Labour politicians are given the opportunity to govern - in Whitehall or the town hall - the story is exactly the same.

"Higher taxes on those who can least afford to pay and poorer services for those who need them most - all spin and no delivery."

Mr Hague refused to speculate on his own future if the Tories fared badly in the General Election, saying: "We are planning for victory, we are ready to win. I think it's very arrogant of people who think they know the result of the General Election before a vote has been cast."

The Tory leader looked forward to an election victory saying: "Within weeks of taking office the next Conservative government will abolish Labour's national and regional house building targets."

He added: "We have been listening and we have been learning.

"Conservatives understand that getting big government off the back of people means trusting local communities. It's an approach that will take us to victory on June 7."

Mr Blair's announcement of the poll is expected any time in the 48 hours after this afternoon's Downing Street meeting.

The Prime Minister will tell his colleagues the forthcoming contest will need "even more energy and focus than the 1997 campaign".

An announcement of the General Election date had been expected this week after Mr Blair announced on April 2 that the local elections set for May 3 were being postponed to June 7 because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy was also campaigning today, with his election battle bus in Portsmouth.

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