FORMER East Lancashire MP Sir David Trippier has warned that the Conservative Party is in danger of becoming a "laughing stock" following a series of high-profile rifts at this week's conference.

Sir David is much respected in these parts and he won many friends when he represented Rossendale and Darwen constituency.

But we feel his warning is a little late.

The Conservative Party already is a laughing stock.

The squabbles and in-fighting were going on long before the Blackpool gathering and, as we said earlier in the week, young Mr Hague was facing an almost impossible task in presenting the Tories as an alternative government.

More than half way through the conference the Tories still come over as a shambolic mess.

But we have some sympathy for Mr Hague.

The creaking leviathans of yesteryear, led by Lady Thatcher and Norman Tebbit, have done him no favours.

The pained, almost hopeless, expression on his face as he stood lap dog-style alongside the former Prime Minister as she ranted and raved about the incarceration of her old friend General Pinochet, spoke volumes.

Poor William has not been given a chance. And while Lady Thatcher and her ancient warriors continue to hog the limelight and stifle progress he will not be electable.

Sir David is absolutely right when he says the Tories are in danger of repeating Labour's mistakes between 1979 and 1983 by concentrating on purifying policy and spending too much time fighting among themselves.

We saw the fawning fans of Lady Thatcher give her a rapturous standing ovation yesterday after she launched into a tirade supporting a man with blood on his hands.

That is not the sort of image that will win the Tories votes.

Lady Thatcher had the nerve to label it Pinochet Day.

She would have done her young pretender more good had she called it William Hague Day.

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