Duncan Smith refuses to guarantee Tory tax cuts

Tory policy on tax was thrown into further confusion last night after Iain Duncan Smith refused to say whether the burden would be lower under a Conservative government.

The Tory leader's remarks came in an interview for BBC's Newsnight in which he was heckled by former Tory voters on everything from his own stance on Iraq to a lack of clear policies on public services. One member of the audience won applause by calling on him to stand down as leader.

But Mr Duncan Smith, in a clear sideswipe at Michael Portillo, the former defence secretary, attacked those who had a "personal agenda" and insisted on "playing games" with the party. He also stepped up his Euroscepticism, appearing to suggest that the Maastricht Treaty should be torn up because it had created "major problems in our relation with the European Union".

The Tories were last plunged into chaos on tax policy at Christmas when Mr Duncan Smith pledged that an incoming Conservative administration would be a "lower tax, lower regulation" government. Within two days he was contradicted by Michael Howard, the shadow Chancellor, who said the priority was better public services.

Mr Duncan Smith repeated his belief last night that his party was "at its heart and soul a party of lower tax than Labour". "That is what we will be when we're in Government after the next election," he said. But when asked whether he could guarantee the total tax burden would be lower after four years of a Tory administration, he replied "No".

"I'm three years out from the next general election. I will give you a guarantee if you can give me a guarantee you can tell me what the Government's spending plans and what their tax plans are in two years' time," he said. "I'm not going to give you things I'm going to change in two years' time."

But Mr Duncan Smith did predict that he would survive as leader regardless of the outcome of the May local elections.

"I can tell you now I'm going to lead this party through the next election and we are going to win it. I have no question at all about that. I guarantee you that," he said.

The Tory leader defended his record of rebellions against John Major's government. "I believed quite passionately that the Maastricht Treaty was going to lead to major difficulties which I have to tell you I was right about. It has done. There are major problems now in our relationship with the European Union," he said.

The dozen former Tory voters repeatedly complained that Mr Duncan Smith was "keeping quiet" on policy and had allowed the Tories to "sink without trace" by failing to oppose Labour. One guest, Tony Higgs, said: "This Government has made such a mess of things. Yet you're not there, you're not saying. Nobody hears from you. You're not on the TV, you're not on the radio, you're not in the newspapers. It doesn't make you a credible leader."

Earlier, Mr Duncan Smith moved to draw a line under recent Tory infighting by appointing Theresa May, the party chairman, to a new committee which will reform Conservative Central Office.

The so-called Change Committee will overhaul the structure at the top of the party, including the key role of campaigns chief. Sir Stanley Kalms, the party treasurer, and Paul Baverstock, director of communications and strategy, will serve on the committee.