Clarke: on the campaign trail

"Labour stole our voters and our ideas"

Clarke Promises Tory Party Review

In his first speech outside the Commons since the general election, the former chancellor sought to inject new vigour into his so far low-key campaign with the proposal to make reform the key to wider success. He also warned Conservatives of the dangers of factional fighting over Europe.

If elected leader, he would ask the party chairman to conduct a review of organisation "in all its forms, with the specific objective of making us genuinely a mass-membership party once again".

To varying degrees, other leadership candidates have similarly suggested that if they were successful they would initiate or welcome reform, at least of the leadership election rules.

Mr Clarke was seeking to go at least as far as any of his rivals in his promise of change. "In opposition, the party organisation takes on a critical new importance," he said.

"I believe we must overhaul and revitalise our organisation at every level, so that, just as it did for Labour under Blair, party reform becomes the instrument of the widest possible participation in a new Conservatism," he added.

The speech to barristers in London was the first big outing since the election for Mr Clarke, who has not participated in the flurry of press conferences, photo opportunities and regional tours that the other five candidates have undertaken, preferring to lobby MPs behind the scenes.

The other contenders have also been trying to win support with less than two weeks to go before the first round of voting on June 10.

Redwood: "Work with human nature

In a campaign speech in London, the former Welsh secretary, John Redwood, stressed the importance of environmental policies.

"Green crusading has become a way of life for many. Conservatives have to show we share those feelings and have some practical answers to the problems. Conservatives must be green as well as blue," he said.

Pointing out that many law-abiding Tories sympathised with the cause of anti-road protesters, he said the party should respect the "Nimby spirit inside most Conservative hearts" and "work with human nature".

"I do not want a waste tip, a motorway or even a new housing estate at the bottom of my garden, nor do most of my constituents. It is not an anti-social view," he said. "In recent years, law-abiding Conservatives have sympathised with protesters trying to halt the bulldozers."

Mr Redwood also criticises the selling off of great national buildings. "We must preserved all those fine churches, ancient houses and city landmarks that are our inheritance," he said. "We must give those buildings a prominent role in our future. We are not antiquarians."

The right-winger also called for cleaner beaches, rivers and coasts on the one hand, as well as "proper competition" in the water industry.

Dorrell: Committment to public services

For his part, Stephen Dorrell sought to reassert his credentials as a "one nation" Conservative. In a campaign speech in Bristol, the former health secretary said this was one key policy area where he believes the party needs to regain the initiative.

There had been suspicions that Mr Dorrell, originally from the centre-left of the party, had been appealing more recently to the right. But he has now called for a return to one nation values, with the stress on the importance of good public services.

"We must carry conviction as the party of One Nation. In recent years we have not convinced even our own supporters that we are committed to good schools and good hospitals," he said.

"Our reforms of these essential public services have appeared over-managerial and we need to demonstrate more convincingly our commitment to high quality public services," he added.

Michael Howard, wounded by stinging criticism of him by Ann Widdecombe, is trying to win the support of the grass roots by hosting a drinks party for constituency chairman. Mr Howard is telling them that he is in favour of a "one member, one vote" system for electing the leader - the same method now used by Labour.

The bookmakers' favourite, William Hague, took the bank holiday weekend off but is resuming his strategy of regional visits with a trip to Manchester. A similar policy is being adopted by Peter Lilley, who is off on a four-day tour of the regions.

The Leadership Race