British Conservative Party leader Mr Michael Howard today gave the party's firmest pledge yet on tax by insisting: "When I can, I will cut taxes."
But, like shadow chancellor Mr Oliver Letwin yesterday, he refused to be specific on which taxes would be cut and when.
In his first conference speech as party leader, Mr Howard said he did not want to put a "false prospectus" before voters.
"Everyone's been let down by Labour on tax," he said. "I want to help those who want to get on in life - the family with a new baby who need a bigger home, the couple who both work but still don't seem able to make ends meet.
"Today they are all paying the price of a Government that is taxing too much."
Warning that a third Labour victory would lead to more "painful" tax rises, Mr Howard said the Tories would save billions of pounds by cutting government waste and getting a grip on public spending.
Mr Howard said that unlike Mr Blair, he was not going to make promises he could not keep.
"I don't want you to leave this hall today with a false prospectus. We must be honest with the British people," he told party activists.
PA