Cameron and a 'Haynes guide' to fixing broken down Britain

The Conservatives have produced an eye-catching pamphlet called Breakdown Britain - in the style of the hard-back motoring manuals found in every garage - to highlight their plans to combat drugs and family breakdown.

Described as a 'citizen's repair manual' it illustrates social problems as if they were broken car components, suggesting potential Tory solutions.

The first 'chapter', entitled Family Unit Breakdown, warns in mock car manual-style: 'If not treated immediately other related problems may occur.'

The 'family unit' is represented as interlocking parts of a gearbox with arrows pointing to components such as 'commitment', 'strong values', 'mother' and 'father'.

The booklet is part of Mr Cameron's consultation asking potential Tory voters for their views on fixing "Breakdown Britain'.

It follows Iain Duncan Smith's 686-page policy review which controversially recommended reintroducing tax breaks for married couples and higher alcohol duty.

The former Tory leader's report also suggested a crackdown on loan sharks to help poor families avoid debt traps and £500 education credits for disadvantaged children.

The new pamphlet, distributed free with a national newspaper, is effectively a 20-page digest of the ex-Tory leader's mammoth report.

It invites readers to tick the ideas they support and send a completed form back to Conservative HQ.

In his introduction Mr Cameron says: 'The sense of social breakdown is the biggest challenge we face. Today I will focus my energy on fixing our broken society. I want you to tell me what you think are the most important policy ideas in Iain's report.'

A Labour source said: This seems like an unbelievably crass way of simplifying serious, complex problems. It shows how desperate Cameron has become in seeking attention.'

Publisher John Haynes has been producing his celebrated car manuals for the garage mechanic and motoring DIY enthusiast since 1960. Since then 150million manuals covering hundreds of makes have been sold worldwide.

Recently Haynes branched out into other guides, including a sex manual with the suggestive subtitle: All Models, Shapes, Sizes And Colours.