'I would have told the truth'

But even in their worst nightmares Labour party activists can't see Tony Blair blowing the next election, especially with the Conservatives seemingly still in the doldrums. A disastrous fourth place in Thursday's Hartlepool byelection has only strengthened the opinion in some quarters that the Tories are in trouble.

The Leader of the Opposition begs to differ though.

Michael Howard will be using his party's conference, which opens in Bournemouth on Monday, as the launch pad for his campaign.

Just about everyone has pencilled in Thursday, May 2, 2005, as polling day, so next week is certain to be the last big political gathering before the voters deliver their verdict.

On the eve of the conference, Mr Howard spoke exclusively to the Daily Echo at his office in Westminster and was in an upbeat mood.

This was Thursday afternoon, several hours before the Hartlepool result.

Given Tony Blair's unpopularity and his obvious problem with credibility and trust, why don't more people see the Conservatives as a credible alternative government?

Mr Howard pauses for a moment. "Probably because the cynicism people now have about Mr Blair has spread to all politicians. I think there were particularly high hopes of him in 1997; he persuaded everyone he was going to be different from every other kind of politician they'd ever come across before, and they feel very badly let down. I think people now have a kind of mindset that nobody could make much of a difference and that we're all the same. You won't be surprised to hear that I don't accept that."

He says the party has been working hard on ideas and policies on crime, health, education, immigration, tax and pensions which he believes will make things "a lot better" for the people of Dorset and Britain as a whole.

But we come back to the issue of trust. How would a Conservative government restore faith in public servants and institutions?

"I'll tell you what I would do. I would lead a government that tells the truth and keeps its promises. I tend not to make promises I cannot keep. For example, the reason I am not promising tax cuts is I do not know for sure I can do that."

So would Michael Howard in Number Ten ever lie to the British people?

"No. It's as simple as that."

Attempting to restore trust in the body politic would clearly be his number one priority.

On Iraq, given the same set of circumstances faced by Mr Blair after 9/11 and Afghanistan, would he have done anything different?

"Yes, two things. I would have told the truth and I would have insisted we had a plan for what came after the conflict. That is not just hindsight, we were saying that at the time. But you are quite right. I would have gone to war. It is not what a lot of people would like me to say and it is in many ways a very politically inconvenient thing to say. But I think it is perfectly possible to be in favour of the war and to be in favour of telling the truth."

The countryside has once again risen to the top of the political agenda after the government's hunting ban and demonstrations in Parliament Square and the invasion of the Commons. So, to coin a well-minted phrase, would the countryside be safe in Conservative hands?

"I think the Conservative party instinctively understands the countryside. I think we understand the problems of farmers. I think we understand the things that make the countryside tick. The importance of village schools, rural post offices and village shops, the importance of the fabric of the countryside and country pursuits."

So would he reverse the ban on hunting?

"It's always been a free vote so I can't give you a yes or no answer to that. We have promised to produce a government bill that would give Parliament the opportunity of reversing the ban if the votes are there to do it."

The Conservatives have no plans to phase out the council tax despite growing anger over the levels of bills. Several hundred pensioners are expected to march on the conference.

"I am aware that the bills have gone up 94 per cent in Bournemouth since 1997 and people are worried because they are predicted to double again if there's another Labour government. But we had four years of the council tax before 1997 and nobody was marching in the streets or threatening to go to jail."

Mr Howard says there is not much wrong with the council tax, but with the unfair burden the government expects local councils to shoulder in terms of rules, regulations and responsibilities.

Traditionally the party of law and order, the Conservatives are also concerned about the rise in the level of the binge drinking culture which the leader says is totally unacceptable.

He says councils should have much greater power to say no to licensing applications if they feel a town has too many drinking spaces.

"It should also be easier for police to close down bars if they continue to serve alcohol to underage teenagers or those who have had far too much to drink, or in any way fuel the violence which so disfigures our towns and cities."

The Conservatives have also pledged to review the provision of affordable housing which Mr Howard acknowledged was a major issue in Dorset.

After the dismal result in Hartlepool, this week's conference has assumed a greater importance in terms of rallying the troops and boosting morale.

But beyond the confines of the BIC, does anyone care about party conferences?

Mr Howard smiled: "I want the party to leave Bournemouth next week united in its determination to do everything possible to win the next general election because we believe we can make a difference to the country. We believe that the country is on the wrong course and needs a government that can tell the truth and keep its promises, and that's what we can provide. If we come out of our conference feeling like that, it will make a difference."