TORIES in Ellesmere Port have welcomed Conservative leader Michael Howard's 16 pledges to the people.

Mr Howard issued a personal credo aimed at demolishing Labour's claims that the Tory Party nationally has a 'negative and pessimistic look'.

He set out what he called '16 positive Conservative values' on which his policies would be based in 2004.

Mr Howard believes politicians should help ordinary people achieve all their goals in life, and not nanny or over-regulate them.

He says Britain and the British must always be free, people should have every opportunity to succeed, and there should be no injustice or inequality.

And he declared there is no freedom without responsibility, adding it was the duty of us all to look after the young, elderly and the vulnerable.

Speaking after Mr Howard's declaration, Tory borough councillor Gareth Anderson said: 'This is a very good idea.

'Mr Howard has put things succinctly. Everyone should have the opportunity to improve themselves.' Cllr Anderson, who represents Ledsham Ward, also agrees with Mr Howard's assertions that one man's poverty is not caused by another's wealth, one man's ignorance is not caused by another's knowledge, and one man's sickness is not caused by another's health.

Speaking generally, he added: 'People have got fed up with this Labour Government.

'But there is a real alternative in the Conservative Party.

'They can see Mr Howard going to Prime Minister's Question Time and hear him taking on the Government time and time again.

'In the next few weeks we'll have the outcome of the Hutton Inquiry into the death of weapons inspector Dr David Kelly.

'That won't be anything to congratulate this Government on.

'Mr Howard has already promised in Parliament to tackle the Prime Minister on it.'