Tories hope a change of scenery will help party conference

Iain Duncan Smith has ordered the set at the Conservatives' annual conference to be changed every day to present a fresh image to party members and attract the support of more young people.

The colour and design of the main stage, where the Tory leader and his frontbench colleagues will make their speeches, will change each day and shift as the theme of a debate moves on. Slogans will also change to symbolise the desire to move with the times.

The change is part of a concerted effort to present the Tory party as modern and capable of connecting with groups such as ethnic minorities and young people who do not traditionally vote Conservative.

Party strategists are worried that past conferences have featured the elderly "blue-rinse brigade" too prominently. They have decided to delay the opening times each day so that debates start after lunch and will continue until about 7.30pm to allow young people with jobs to "pop in" in the evening.

Planners want the cameras to veer away from flag-waving women in twin sets to younger supporters. They have arranged for Mr Duncan Smith and other senior Tories to visit schools and hospitals in the mornings.

A senior party source said: "The idea of changing the set will reflect the moving messages and ideas of the day. It underlines the fact that the party is modernising and is in tune with the contemporary world."

The party is also planning to bring in outside speakers, who are not Tories, to promote a new "caring" image. Guests include John Bird, founder of The Big Issue magazine for homeless people, and John Drake, chief executive of the Norwich YMCA.

Michael Portillo has decided to keep a low profile. He is restricting himself to "constituency events" and will attend the annual dinner of his local Kensington and Chelsea party.