Majors Attempts To Restore Unity

Radical welfare reforms, including a bill to increase the penalties for benefit fraud, will be put at the heart of the Conservative programme by the prime minister this week. However, John Majors attempts to use the Tory party conference to restore his partys unity suffered a setback last night when John Redwood appeared reluctant to endorse his own party.

Ministers were also struggling to avoid further signals of internal division as it emerged that James Cran, an influential Tory MP who has played an important parliamentary role in the Northern Ireland peace process, had resigned as parliamentary private secretary to Sir Patrick Mayhew, Northern Ireland secretary. A senior Tory said the announcement of Crans departure was being postponed until a successor could be found. Asked why Cran had quit, a close colleague of the prime minister said he was not sure.

Major hopes the series of conference announcements on welfare reform, which he will characterise under the slogan opportunity for all, will enable him to regain control of the political agenda. One of the most contentious of the announcements will be a new crackdown on people who illegally claim welfare benefits, with a fraud bill to be pushed through the Commons in the next session of parliament. Ministers are expected to announce they will introduce new penalties for fraudulent claimants, allowing courts to levy fines and cancel their future entitlement to welfare payouts.

Speaking to a dinner of constituency party agents last night, Major said: Opportunity for all . . . depends on an affordable welfare system that offers security for all. But Majors arrival in Bournemouth was partly overshadowed when the BBCs Panorama programme said it had asked Redwood whether electors should vote for the Tories or for Sir James Goldsmiths Referendum party.