Capital plan: Letwin

The Conservatives have launched a bid to seize control of councils across London.

The party, which has seen its support in the capital collapse over recent years, is seeking to capitalise on the controversy and unpopularity of Labour's PPP scheme for the Tube in an effort to woo the votes of Londoners.

Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin has launched the party's local manifesto, entitled "Making Life Better in London", aimed at getting more seats on the capital's 33 London boroughs which come up for election next month.

The party launched the manifesto during a visit to the New Addington housing estate in Croydon - dubbed by the party as the "estate that Labour forgot".

Eric Pickles, shadow minister for London, said Londoners had been let down since the last set of local elections, pointing to rising violent crime, shambolic transport and higher council tax bills.

"New Addington is the estate that Labour forgot. It is a prime example of neglected estates across London that Labour have taken for granted," he said.

The party said it would have a "positive message" to put forward on doorsteps around London.

"Our councils deliver lower council taxes and better public services. Streets are cleaner, there is more recycling and schools standards are better. Conservative councillors are making life better through neighbourhood initiatives," said Pickles.

Letwin called for a clampdown on "quality of life crimes" in the capital.

"Conservative councils have better street lighting and cleaner streets - tackling the causes of many types of criminal behaviour and urban decay", he said.

Labour woes

The party's leader, Iain Duncan Smith, claims that London's status as a world city is "blighted by problems" such as crime and a failing transport system.

The party is seeking to capitalise on the government's on-going row with London mayor Ken Livingstone over whether the Tube should be handed over to private contractors.

The Conservatives will tell Londoners that Labour's political failure has "hurt some of the most vulnerable people" in society - such as those on low incomes, the homeless and the elderly.

Successes by Conservative councils - with initiatives such as street lighting and community wardens - are used as examples of how the party works at local level.

The party is hoping the vote on May 2 will be the beginning of the Conservative revival. Strategists hope they can turn disillusionment with the government into Tory support.

But if the Conservatives fail to make major gains Duncan Smith will face difficult questions from the party faithful.

The party has already admitted that the decisions by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s caused damage to local government.

Duncan Smith is using the vote as an opportunity to hammer home the message that the Tories are looking to widen their appeal.

The Conservatives will represent everyone, including the poor, the homeless and the elderly, he says in the manifesto.