PREMIUM --

Conservative Party leader Michael Howard relaxes in his office at the House of Commons, London, Tuesday, December 30, 2003. Mr Howard today, Wednesday December 31, 2003, committed his party to pursuing the "noble cause" of developing a convincing alternative to Tony Blair's Government. In his New Year message to the country, Mr Howard accused Labour of being addicted to an over-centralised, bureaucratic mode of government. See PA story POLITICS Howard. PA Photo: Stefan Rousseau.