Duncan Smith promises to return powers to local government

Iain Duncan Smith yesterday launched a blistering attack on what he described as Labour's centralising instincts and announced the creation of a Tory task force to find ways of creating "a new age of community government".

The task force, chaired by David Davis, the Shadow Secretary of State for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, will explore ways to revive local government and disentangle Labour's "web" of centralisation.

Delivering the annual Nicholas Ridley Memorial Lecture in London, Mr Duncan Smith pledged to take power away from the "control freaks in Downing Street and the Treasury" and to revive council powers by funding in a more transparent way.

The task force will examine letting local government borrow money or issue bonds and elect judges and police chiefs.

Earlier yesterday, speaking to the Conservative Women's conference, Mr Duncan Smith reiterated his view that more Tory women should be found seats at Westminster.

The conference was attended by influential women from Conservative Associations throughout Britain, a crucial constituency for Mr Duncan Smith as leader.

But observers said delegates appeared "underwhelmed". "I didn't leave the conference feeling inspired or more confident about our chances," said one woman.