Tim Collins has urged Conservative activists to unite behind the party leadership.

The shadow transport secretary told internal critics to "relearn the virtues of loyalty".

Addressing delegates at the annual Tory conference in Blackpool on Monday, Collins called on senior figures to stay quiet if they could not offer support.

"Only this Conservative party can eject Tony Blair from Number 10 within the next two years," he said.

"But we've got two obstacles to overcome to do that. First, there are some in this party who need rapidly to relearn the virtues of loyalty.

"Let us remind them - Iain Duncan Smith was elected overwhelmingly, is daily exposing Tony Blair's deceit and dishonesty and deserves the undivided support of this entire party.

"So let the message go forth to every Conservative, however eminent, senior or self-important - if you can't say anything positive about your party, kindly don't say anything at all."

And he called on the party to "raise its sights" towards winning the next general election

"Some say our aim should simply be to cut Mr Blair's majority and prepare to win the election after next. Conference, we can't wait that long," Collins continued.

"Those relying on failing public services, those paying skyrocketing taxes, those seeing years of striving to give their children a good education ruined by the corruption of the exam system, those held up as transport grinds to a halt - all these people can't wait.

"Above all, Britain can't wait. Another New Labour term could end all that makes Britain what it is."

On the policy front, the transport spokesman pledged to make a review of all speed limits one of his priorities should he come to office.

"International experience shows that higher and more rigorously observed limits on motorways, combined with lower limits on smaller roads, strongly help to reduce road casualties," he said.

"That's why we will on entering office immediately start a swift and comprehensive review of speed limits.

"It's likely to mean raising the motorway limit to 80 mph while providing lower limits - of 20 mph or below - near schools or in small communities."

The building of new roads would become more widespread and be made easier under the Tories, he argued.

"Greater safety also comes from new roads," Collins said.

"We'll cut both the costs and the time of building roads, starting by scrapping time-wasting Multi-modal studies."

"Unlike Labour, we don't aim to obliterate every last blade of grass from southern England," he added.

"Our approach will ease overheating in the south - a sensible regional policy, respect for the green belt and, at last, fair and firm immigration and asylum rules to cut the numbers moving here from abroad.

"And of course we'll keep the presumption, placed into law by the last Conservative government, against major road developments in National Parks or areas of natural beauty.

"But we also know sensibly planned, sensibly built roads enhance the environment for villages and small towns, cut pollution and congestion, and reduce the number of accidents."

In addition, the Conservatives would "concentrate on the big risks, not the small risks", said Collins.

"When the next rail incident occurs, we will not rush to feed the frenzy of dangerous speculation encouraging people to switch to the roads," he said, pointing to figures revealing that more people have died on the roads than on Britain's rail network.

Under Tory plans, the Strategic Rail Authority would be reduced in size, while the controversial Crossrail project in London would be managed entirely by the private sector.

The shadow transport secretary also pledged to increase the number of traffic patrols, pointing to a fall of nearly 10 per cent in the number of police officers placed on traffic duty.

He also pledged to increase education for drivers, and impose stronger penalties on those caught driving without a licence or insurance, which could include the permanent confiscation of their cars and longer jail terms.