No complacency warning to Tories

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

At the Conservative conference in Birmingham, Mrs Spelman set out a five point plan to win the next general election.

She stressed the need to stick to the centre ground and stay united in the face of Labour "infighting and introspection".

As the conference got under way, Mrs Spelman insisted: "We've got the ideas to ease the pain of the downturn and improve the economy for the long-term."

Hailing the last 12 months as a great year for the Conservatives, she said: "They said we couldn't break a 40% share of the national vote - and we have.

"They said we couldn't win London - and we have. They said we couldn't make gains in the north and we have. Together we are coming back. But we still have a long way to go. It may be sometime before Brown finds the bottle to call an election."

Mrs Spelman told party supporters the first step must be "absolutely no complacency" because this was the "enemy of action".

Activists must never kid themselves that the election was "in the bag".

Secondly, the party must stick to the centre ground as Labour had "lurched to the left and forgotten what people really care about".

The third step to success, she said, was staying united. "Last week's Labour conference was a feast of in-fighting and introspection. They are more concerned with their own share price than the fortunes of our economy. We are the strong, united, positive alternative to Labour and we've got to stay that way."