Michael Howard is coming under growing pressure from within his own ranks to adjust his party's election tactics.

With the Conservatives continuing to trail in the polls, reports in today's press suggest many Tory candidates are worried about the party's tax-cutting strategy.

Michael Howard has stood by his plans for £4bn of cuts in his first Budget, insisting that the Tories would invest to create "world class" public services.

But a Conservative official told the FT: "We have not broken through, which I find very odd because we think we are doing very well.

"We have to come up with some ground-breaking thing which really attracts attention. It's got to be something that strikes a chord."

The Guardian also carries reports of unease amongst senior Tories about the conduct of the campaign.

The paper claims shadow cabinet members have begged the Conservative leader to tone down his rhetoric on immigration and other issues believing it is driving disaffected Labour supporters back to the party to keep out a right wing Tory government.

Blair yesterday warned Labour against complacency but privately, Labour strategists believe they are "in the right place" after using Brown's role to make the economy a key issue.