Hague challenges Blair to US-style TV debate

William Hague sought to draw fresh battle lines for the next general election yesterday, challenging Tony Blair to appear with him in a head-to-head live debate on television.

William Hague sought to draw fresh battle lines for the next general election yesterday, challenging Tony Blair to appear with him in a head-to-head live debate on television.

Delegates cheered as the Tory leader said Mr Blair should agree to the American-style confrontation so that the public could decide who would make a better prime minister. The debate should be modelled on last night's clash between the US Vice-President, Al Gore, and the Republican candidate, George W Bush, he said.

A Labour spokesman said the party would "consider the proposal at the appropriate time".Senior sources stressed there would be logistical problems, particularly over the need to give all parties fair coverage under the Representation of the People's Act. The Liberal Democrats would almost certainly have to be included.

Mr Hague, during a question and answer session, also saidhe would send his children, if he had any, to a state school. "I put my trust in where I came from myself. I would send my children to the local state school. But I know I can do that because there are good state schools around where I live. I feel very sorry for people who want to send their children to state school but find the local state school isn't good enough. That's what we have to tackle."

The Tory leader came under renewed pressure to attract more members of ethnic minorities to his party, stressing repeatedly that the Conservative Party was "inclusive". He said that particularly the Asian communities' values of small businesses and the family matched many Tory policies.

"We did not get any candidates from ethnic minorities elected to Parliament at the general election. But there are many seats that we will win at the next general election so let us make that [the campaign to attract more Asians to the party] our mind-set."

He spoke of the Conservatives as a "party for all communities", saying he was "proud" to see that the first two British Asians elected to the European Parliament last year were Tory candidates.

During the 60-minute session, he condemned the Millennium Dome as a waste and a disaster. To loud applause, he added: "What a scandal it is that no one will take responsibility for it. If we were in office we would shut the Dome, sack the Dome minister, announce a public inquiry into the scandal and make sure the money goes to really good causes like cancer research, sports projects and community projects."

Mr Hague joked about how he watched Mr Blair arrive at question time. "He comes in with a big smile on his face and big folders of statistics under his arm and then I ask my first question and you can see the smile freeze as he realises the answer is not in the folder."

Mr Hague said: "We are not stopping in our crusade to restore the authority and legitimacy of Parliament and to take it seriously."