IAIN Duncan Smith promised that this week would see his party established as a genuine alternative to the Labour Government.

We were told that wave after wave of policies would be rolled out to mount a serious challenge to Tony Blair.

He began that process with early election pledges to improve public services and lower taxes.

As sentiments, they are shared by every voter in the land. As policies, however, they lack credibility.

Promises to cut taxes yet improve services are not complementary, and will rightly be viewed with suspicion by the British public.

Such ill-conceived policies will not stand up to the rigours of scrutiny in an election campaign. If they are to form the bedrock of the next manifesto, then the Conservatives are heading for a third successive defeat.

The British electorate will not be swayed by rash promises. Nor will they be swayed by the gimmicks which yesterday formed the basis of the party's education and health reforms.

The 'passports' for school children and hospital patients will not deliver 'a fair deal for everyone', as heralded in the Blackpool Conference slogan.

The notion that cash incentives will somehow persuade a NHS patient to seek private healthcare is fanciful. All they will do is subsidise private healthcare for those who already opt out of the NHS.

And the notion that cash incentives will somehow persuade parents of children in state education to send them to private schools is equally fanciful. All they will do is subsidise those who already opt out of state schools.

These policies do not amount to a fair deal for everyone. They amount to a better deal for the privileged few.

They may consolidate support among traditional Conservative voters, but they will not attract the new followers the party needs to win the next election.

After only one day of the conference, it is perhaps too early to write off Mr Duncan Smith's chances of reviving the fortunes of his party.

But on the evidence of the initial proceedings, the odds are that he will be fighting a losing battle by the time he steps up to the rostrum for his leader's speech on Thursday.