Tory favourite aims to woo voters untouched by Thatcher years

LONDON - Tory leadership frontrunner David Cameron has moved to distance himself from the legacy of Baronness Margaret Thatcher as he pledged to create a party responsive to the hopes of voters who never knew the "Iron Lady" in Government.

Speaking at a rally of young Conservatives at the Young People's Parliament in Birmingham, he said Britain faced a new set of challenges. "At the next election, there will be 18-year-olds voting who were born after Mrs Thatcher left office and a full year after the Berlin Wall fell. This new generation knows that Britain faces a new generation of challenges. I want to lead a renewed Conservative Party to meet these challenges. If we change to win, we can win for Britain."

The education spokesman was formally launching his campaign in the run-off ballot with David Davis.

"Conservative revival in our cities will only take place if we show how modern Conservative values are the right way to deliver a real urban revival. Modern compassionate Conservatism means recognising that we are all in this together and have a shared responsibility to deal with these problems. I want the Conservatives to be a party of the cities as well as the countryside and suburbs."

An Independent on Sunday survey of local Tory office holders showed that 38 of 54 local associations surveyed favoured Cameron over Davis. Cameron was endorsed at the weekend by former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine.

- INDEPENDENT