Former top aide attacks Tory leader for failing to offer policies

Iain Duncan Smith's former chief of staff attacked him yesterday for failing to offer "positive alternatives" to Labour on crucial policy issues.

In a biting critique of his leadership, Jenny Ungless also condemned his "unite or die" challenge as a mistake and claimed the party had lost momentum in its drive to modernise.

Ms Ungless, who resigned in the summer amid infighting in Conservative Central Office, is advising the right-of-centre New Party for Britain.

She said that it would target policy areas, such as the National Health Service, pensions and the state of public transport, which voters thought were being ignored by the main parties.

"All those are issues where the Labour Government is clearly failing and where, so far at least, you could say the Conservatives have failed to offer much in the way of positive alternatives."

The Tory Party could still "come through" on such issues, she said, but added: "If the public think another party can viably offer something more interesting, then that's an exciting prospect.

"The emergence of a new party could potentially be a breath of fresh air in politics," she said.